In today’s digital age, protecting your social media accounts is paramount. With the prevalence of cyber threats, safeguarding platforms like Instagram is crucial. This guide offers step-by-step instructions to fortify your Instagram account against unauthorized access and potential breaches.
Step 1: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
Go to your Instagram profile and tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
Select “Settings” from the menu.
Scroll down and tap on “Security.”
Choose “Two-Factor Authentication” and follow the prompts to enable it.
Select your preferred method for receiving authentication codes (SMS or authenticator app).
Save backup codes in a secure location for emergencies.
Step 2: Review App Permissions:
Navigate to your Instagram settings.
Select “Apps and Websites” under the “Security” section.
Review the list of connected apps and websites.
Revoke access for any apps or websites that you no longer use or trust.
Regularly audit your connected apps to maintain security.
Step 3: Set Up Login Alerts:
Access your Instagram settings.
Tap on “Security” and then “Login Activity.”
Enable login alerts by selecting “Get Notifications” and choosing your preferred method (email or SMS).
Receive alerts whenever someone attempts to log in to your account from an unfamiliar device or location.
Take immediate action if you receive any suspicious login alerts.
Step 4: Create a Strong Password:
Visit your Instagram settings.
Select “Security” and then “Password.”
Choose “Change Password” and enter your current password.
Create a strong, unique password using a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters.
Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or names.
Consider using a reputable password manager to generate and store secure passwords.
Step 5: Stay Vigilant Against Phishing Attempts:
Be cautious of emails, messages, or websites requesting your Instagram login information.
Verify the authenticity of any communication by checking the sender’s email address or website URL.
Look out for red flags such as grammatical errors or urgent requests for personal information.
Never provide your Instagram credentials to unverified sources.
Report any suspicious activity or phishing attempts to Instagram immediately.
By following these step-by-step instructions, you can enhance the security of your Instagram account and minimize the risk of unauthorized access or data breaches. Remember to regularly review your security settings and stay informed about emerging threats to ensure the ongoing protection of your account.
All you need to know to navigate Excel and Google Sheets as a business owner with little to no experience in spreadsheets.
At some point in your business, you’ll need to open up a spreadsheet to do some calculations, build your financial model, answer questions about your sales, analyze your expenses, determine how much to pay your employees and determine how to price your product.
Before you can use any functions, all formulas start with the equals (=) symbol at the beginning. Once you have this, you’re letting Excel or Google Sheets know you want it to calculate something. You can use many different functions in Excel and Google Sheets, but you only really need to know how to use the following functions to do everything.
Basic Math Functions: Plus (+), Minus (-), Multiplication (*), Division (/)
SUM
COUNT
AVERAGE
IF
Basic Math Functions
Like any calculator, you can use basic math functions such as Plus (+), Minus (-), Multiplication (*), and Division (/) within any cell in your spreadsheet. Once you start with an equals sign, you can reference any cell by clicking on it and then going forward with the basic math functions. If you don’t have a cell you want to reference, you can always type in the numbers you want in the cell and then press enter. The result will show in whatever cell you choose to put the formula in.
SUM
Instead of manually using the plus sign for every cell you want to add up, you can use the SUM function to add up a row or column of cells quickly. The SUM function can add your total annual sales and expenses.
COUNT
If you have an inventory list in a spreadsheet and want to count how many of a particular product you have left, you can use the COUNT function to show the result automatically. This way, you won’t have to count it yourself manually!
AVERAGE
You can use the AVERAGE functions to see, on average, how much you spent on expenses this year or how much you sell monthly. Once you know your average, you can use this number to forecast for the future months what you can expect to make.
IF
The IF function is the more advanced function on this list. It’s unnecessary for you to know as a beginner, but it is necessary if you want to use logical formulas. If your business gives out commissions to employees based on sales, you can use the IF function to tell your spreadsheet to calculate the commission amount if sales reach a certain amount. You can also use the IF function to calculate referral fees based on the number of new customers you closed that month.
As your business demands grow, you may need to use even more advanced functions, but the goal is not to show how much advanced Excel knowledge you know; it’s to analyze what story your financials are saying about your business. As long as you can get to the answer, it doesn’t matter if you only use basic functions. All that matters is what answers you can get to determine your next steps in business.
About the author:
Anwuli Chukwurah is a versatile finance professional with a track record of starting new finance organizations and scaling them for growth in fast-paced entrepreneurial environments. She has over 6+ years of experience working with small business owners, startups, and nonprofit organizations to help connect finance with their business goals. She aims to ensure her clients become comfortable and adept at navigating their numbers. She works with clients at Woolichooks and writes a newsletter for non-finance folks.
Congratulations my dear fellow entrepreneur. You have done what most people just talk about! You have taken the leap and ventured on your own! It’s an exciting journey, but it’s also normal to experience self-doubt and fear along the way. While these feelings can make even the most confident entrepreneur hesitate, they can also be converted into your motivational tool guide.
Wondering how?
Here are 5 powerful tips to help you conquer self-doubt and fear, and propel your business forward:
1. Remember Your Why: What ignited your passion to start this business? Reconnect with your core purpose. Was it to solve a problem you care about? Leave a legacy? Focusing on your “why” will reignite your drive and fuel your confidence. Remember the problems you will solve and never let that purpose be out of sight
2. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Even the most celebrated expert was a novice once. This country is full of such novices becoming experts through sheer consistency. Every step forward, every hurdle cleared, is a victory. Focus on continuous improvement, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward.
3. Find Your Tribe: You are known by the company you keep. Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you and your business. This could be a mentorship program, online communities for female or minority entrepreneurs, or even a mastermind group of local business owners. Sharing your challenges and celebrating successes with like-minded individuals is a powerful way to combat self-doubt.
4. Embrace Continuous Learning: The business landscape is constantly evolving. Commit to lifelong learning – take online courses, attend workshops, and read books and articles on relevant topics. Most importantly learn from every mistake and set back. Embracing a learning mindset will help you get more confident while navigating challenges and making decisions.
5. Practice giving and gratitude: It’s important to learn to give before you can get. Focus on what you bring to the table, what problem you will solve, who will smile because of you today. Also take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you’re grateful for in your business journey. This simple exercise can boost your mood and combat negativity.
Remember, you are not alone. Every successful entrepreneur has faced self-doubt and fear. By implementing these tips and believing in yourself, you can conquer these challenges and build a thriving business.
Pavielle Babai-Pirouz is the owner of a bustling pedicab business, High Tech Hippie, in Austin, Texas, where she oversees a fleet of pedicabs rented out to drivers. Pedicabs, essentially bicycle taxis, provide a unique and eco-friendly mode of transportation around the city. Pavielle’s journey began in 2008 when she started as a pedicab driver herself. In 2021, fueled by her years of experience and knowledge, she made the leap to start her own company. Seizing an opportunity, she acquired a pedicab business that was being sold, instantly expanding her fleet to 32 pedicabs to begin her journey.
Pavielle shares her experience as an EGBI client.
How did you hear about EGBI?
I was looking for an accountant and my accountant recommended EGBI. I needed help organizing my money flow. While I could manage it myself being a small company, I needed assistance in learning how to do it effectively.
How has EGBI helped you?
EGBI has been instrumental in various aspects. They taught me accounting, how to build a website, and even how to hire a lawyer. Moreover, they helped in connecting me with the Chamber of Commerce, which is quite similar to EGBI in terms of networking for entrepreneurs. However, the Chamber of Commerce mainly deals with established businesses rather than EGBI that works with both ideas and established business owners. I attended all the workshops they offered.
What are you working on now?
Currently, my business has outgrown its current property, so I’m looking to expand to a new location. In the pedicab industry, the drivers pay me in order to rent the pedicab. To make it more appealing for drivers to choose my company, I plan to offer better amenities at the new facility, like air conditioning, showers, and even bunk beds for naps. This new shop could also serve as a landing place for drivers coming from out of town for events in Austin.
What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
The freedom that comes with entrepreneurship was a big inspiration for me. Being able to set my own schedule and pace was something I valued, which I experienced as a pedicab driver. Initially, I was terrified to start my own business due to fear of failure and self-doubt, especially with challenges like reading difficulties. However, technology and mentorship from the previous owner helped me overcome those hurdles.
What’s your biggest challenge?
Managing drivers is one of my biggest challenges. Many of them have diverse interests in their lives, and some aspire to be musicians or pursue artistic endeavors. Balancing their aspirations while maintaining the efficiency of the business can be a delicate task. It’s important to maintain respect and understanding, especially when dealing with individuals with artistic inclinations.
What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?
My advice would be to embrace criticism and feedback, even from those who may sound like they’re tearing you down. I learned to convert negative feedback into something positive, acknowledging problems and working to address them. Worrying about things that can change is futile; instead, focus on making those changes. And for things beyond your control, learn to accept and adapt without unnecessary worry.
Christin Ong worked for a drug store company where she learned and caught on to all of the resources she needed to and took those resources and used them with her future business/ career. Christin works at Commercial Leasing with LT Commercial Group.
Here is the interview with David Fuentes and Christin Ong.
David Fuentes: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself how you started working in the Commercial LT group?
Christin Ong: I worked at a national drugstore company. I was able to leverage my knowledge ofmanaging a high profile business and managing operations into commercial real estate with a family investing in commercial real estate.
David Fuentes: What essentials of Commercial Leasing with LT Commercial Group with Christin Ong?
Christin Ong: If you want easy access and visibility what you should consider is the cost and you’re not going to want to consider if the monthly budget fits into your monthly or rent budget but are there any other additional costs that you’re going to be responsible for.
David Fuentes: What are key elements of a commercial leasing contract and which parts are important to review over?
Christin Ong: With commercial leasing everything is very important but it’s also so long and it can be very intimidating especially if this is your first time into a contract like this so really you should look over everything.
David Fuentes: What are the differences between gross lease, a net lease, and a triple net lease and how do they impact tenants?
Christin Ong: Almost any operating expenses so you just have one flat fee every month. Nothing is variable. It doesn’t change with a triple net lease it’s a type of net so there’s three types of net leases theirs a single net double net and triple and what it looks like is based on your rental amount but you also have net charges on top of that.
How to create a budget you’ll use for your business. Sure, you can trust your gut, but your employees don’t have your gut and will need a concrete plan they can see and use.
When you hear the word, budget, what emotion comes to mind for you? Some dread it and actively avoid using it. Some think it’s restrictive and not flexible enough to match their ideas. But, a budget helps give you a north star to follow. If your business doesn’t have focus, it’ll feel like nothing is moving or things are moving in all directions and yet feel stagnant. A budget can help you focus your energy on one thing for that year. If you realize halfway through the year that the budget you built is over or below your actual results by a huge margin, then at least you have a starting point on what to change for the remaining year.
If you don’t have a baseline budget, then how can you know what needs to change and how to change it? If you feel like your business is off course, you can always go back to your budget to see what your plans were and refocus. It’s not meant to be a restrictive handcuff. You can have fun with it and get into the habit of recording and seeing the changes in your budget and business as it evolves.
Three ways you can start creating and using a budget:
Simple
Growth Rate
Detailed & Bottom-Up
Simple
The simple method of creating a budget is multiplying your monthly revenue and expenses by twelve (annualizing your monthly number). This automatically gives you your annual goal for revenue and expenses. This only works if you’re just starting out and are a one or two-person team. At least you’ll have a goal that you’re trying to reach. You will sacrifice some accuracy with this method, but it’s a starting point. Then, as your business grows, you’ll get a sense of what revenue and expenses look like to help inform next year’s budget. What ends up happening, as you grow, you’ll want a more detailed method to plan for revenue and expenses.
Growth Rate
Another way is to pick a percentage that you think your total revenue or expense will increase or decrease for the year. For this you’ll need your previous year’s total revenue and expense to multiply your rate to it. Some common sense will have to be applied when using this method. You can’t say you’ll 10x your revenue over the next year when you’ve barely been able to double your revenue. Don’t set yourself up for failure, and keep your numbers reasonable. I usually like to underestimate revenue and overestimate my expenses. You’re always going to spend more than you think so you might as well build that in your budget.
Detailed & Bottom-Up
I like using this detailed and bottom-up approach when building client budgets. It forces my clients to think through the levers that run their business. What quantities and at what price do you think you’ll be able to sell every month? If you’re a nonprofit, which donors or grants can you get your funds from? If your business is seasonal, we can build the seasonality into your budget. How many employees do you think you’ll need? Is the number of employees needed associated with your sales? If you have department heads, this approach forces you to talk to them and have them bring their input as to what the budget should look like. Since, they’re living the day-to-day and can accurately estimate what resources they’ll need for the next year. This approach takes the longest to build, but it’s comprehensive and will have every part of the business talking to each other to build a functional budget.
Not having a budget is not an option. A budget gives you a goalpost to look towards and helps keep you honest as a business owner. If your actuals don’t match your budget, at least you have a starting point to investigate the differences. Do you have to change your sales and marketing tactics? Is it an operation issue? Have you hired too many people? Do you need to hire more people? Is your fundamental product that you’re selling not what your customers want? It opens a world of ways to start analyzing and seeing your business. A budget is a plan that you can use to run your business, but don’t feel you have to stay stuck to it. It’s just a plan that can change, but whatever change you plan must make business sense. You can’t change just because you feel like it. Your employees will feel the whiplash and lack of stability.
About the author:
Anwuli Chukwurah is a versatile finance professional with a track record of starting new finance organizations and scaling them for growth in fast-paced entrepreneurial environments. She has over 6+ years of experience working with small business owners, startups, and nonprofit organizations to help connect finance with their business goals. She aims to ensure her clients become comfortable and adept at navigating their numbers. She works with clients at Woolichooks and writes a newsletter for non-finance folks.
