Category: Uncategorized

It often feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish all your tasks, so we’re sharing some of our favorite tips and tricks for saving time at work to help you get the most out of your day. 

1. Start every day off with a plan. You’ll find that you’re much more productive when you have a set plan of what tasks you’ll be conquering for the day. Take a few minutes at the end of each day to write out a to-do list of things you want to accomplish the next day, and in the morning evaluate which tasks are high priority and which are lower priority. 
2. Limit distractions and give each task or person you’re meeting with your undivided attention. Put your phone away, mute your email, or log out of social media accounts to make sure you’re completely focused on what’s in front of you. Once these distractions are out of sight, you’ll find that you’re much more productive and able to complete tasks more efficiently. 
3. Adjust your working hours. If you find that you’re most productive between 7-8am consider offsetting your hours and getting an earlier start to ensure you’re working when you know you’ll stay focused and get the most work accomplished.
4. Take breaks. It’s important to let your brain have some downtime throughout the day in order to keep your energy levels up. Get away from your computer and take a walk, have a snack, or chat with a friend or colleague for 20 minutes. You’ll feel refreshed and ready to dive back into your work with a stronger focus after letting yourself recharge. 
5. Stay organized. You’ll make the most out of your day and save yourself heaps of time if your computer and desk files are neat and tidy. Getting organized might be one of the more tedious tasks, but you’ll be much more efficient once you know where all of your work materials are located. 

Curious about what goes on behind the scenes at BOSS Logics? We’re rounding up the top ten things you didn’t know about life at BOSS Logics. 

1. Our office is located in Long Island City, New York, and we have a great view of Manhattan from our desks. 
2. Our Director of Development, Dakota brings her adorable pup, Pod to the office everyday. Pod loves belly rubs and untying shoelaces! 
3. Zach, founder and president of BOSS Logics, started the company at 17 and grew the business throughout his college years. 
4. We launched BOSS Logics Live after only three months of development in June 2020. 
5. Some of our lunch favorites include falafel platters from Harissa Grill or sandwiches from Good Neighbor. 
6. Our office building, The Factory, was built in 1926 and was originally used by Macy’s as a furniture warehouse. 
7. Speaking of our building, it’s so large that it’s also home to a gym, a high school and an art gallery. 
8. We love our neon “hello world” light-up sign in the entryway of our office. 
9. We currently have 9 team members and we’re growing quickly!
10. You can often find us taking breaks to play fetch with Pod.

What is critical thinking? According to criticalthinking.org, it’s “the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.” 

To put it simply, critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, and understanding the logical connection between ideas. If you want to step it up at work, consider changing the way you think about projects or tasks and think critically to come up with stronger solutions.

In the workplace, critical thinking will set you apart from your colleagues. The best critical thinkers engage on a deeper, more intellectual level, have stronger comprehension and decision making skills, and are able to evaluate their own work to find ways to improve its quality. 

First we’ll go over the steps to critical thinking. 

1. Identify the problem or question. 
2. Gather and organize relevant information, and search for different perspectives to avoid any biases. 
3. Analyze the data and evaluate the credibility of your sources.
4. Think about the significance of the data you’ve gathered and decide which information is most important to the problem or question. 
5. Make an informed decision based on all of the evidence.
6. Share your conclusion. 

Next, we’ll go over how you can improve your critical thinking skills. 

1. Become more self-aware. Consider your morals, values, beliefs, and biases and how these might affect the way you handle certain situations. 
2. Understand your mental process and think about how you process and receive information. 
3. Develop foresight and consider how others might react to the decisions you make. 
4. Actively listen to those around you. Listen carefully when others are talking and empathize with them to foster stronger connections. 
5. Ask questions. This is perhaps the most important aspect of thinking critically. Confirm what you already know and clarify anything that is unclear or confusing, and ask follow up questions to gain further insight. 
6. Think about existing evidence. Draw from previous experiences and pieces of evidence you know to be true to help guide your critical thinking. 

As you’re setting up your BOSS Logics Live account and importing your contacts and products, you’ll notice you have the opportunity to create client types and price matrixes. We’ll break down what these are and how to use them on the platform. 

Client types are extra classifications that you can assign to your clients within BOSS Logics Live. For example, if you’re speaking to a prospective client, you might label them as a “prospect” on the platform. Client types were created to help keep you organized and easily differentiate between the clients you’re selling to. You’ll see a label next to each client’s name indicating their client type category on your contacts list. When you’re adding new clients to your account, you’ll see a drop-down menu where you’ll be able to select the appropriate client type.

A price matrix is where you’ll define the cost of your products. Price matrix is accessible in the item details panel in the Product Gallery. Set a rule with custom pricing for each item manually or set rules when you’re importing products. You can create a price matrix for a client type or assign custom pricing for a specific client, as well.

One of the most important aspects of running a business is building strong relationships with your customers. Wondering what the benefits of building relationships with your customers are? We’re here to help. 

1. View yourself as part of a long-term relationship with your customers to make them feel like more than just a means to earning a profit —  make sure to nurture your customer relationships and keep in regular contact with them to show them that you care about them. 
2. The biggest benefit of a strong customer relationship is customer loyalty. You want your customers to keep coming back for more, and by proving that you’re genuinely interested in them and their well-being, you’re sure to keep them happy in the long-term. Make sure to stay top of mind with your customers to ensure repeat business. 
3. It’s also important to maintain a consistent identity with your customers —  customers will find your messages authentic if you preserve the same voice and brand message each time you interact with them. 
4. Another way to ensure your customers see your authenticity is to put a face to the people who are interacting with them. Make sure your customers know what each team member looks like to build an emotional connection and bond. Once you’ve secured a strong connection between your team members and your customers, it’ll be easier to keep in touch with them, and they’ll be more likely to respond to surveys and questionnaires about your products and services for research and development purposes.
5. Keeping an ongoing dialogue with your customers about their preferences will lead to higher satisfaction as well. Check in regularly and ask if your customers need any assistance or have any questions.

Looking for a fun activity to do at home? We have the perfect solution —  host a virtual wine tasting for family and friends. Relax and unwind with your favorite bottle of wine and catch up with your loved ones in a virtual tasting or class —  you’ll learn the ins and outs of what you’re drinking and you’re sure to be a wine connoisseur by the end of the evening. Best of all, most tastings are free to join. We’re rounding up the top 5 virtual wine tastings to try out at home. 

1. Sensory Techniques for Wine Analysis on Coursera. This course is perfect for someone who wants to improve their skills and expand on their knowledge base. The class is through UC Davis and takes about 14 hours to complete. You’ll discover wines from around the world, build a basic vocabulary to describe what you’re drinking, and learn about food pairings. The only catch? You’ll have to buy the wine on your own as it’s not included in the course. Sign up here.
2. Virtual Wine Tasting 101 on Coursehorse. This class is ideal for a beginner who wants to learn how to properly taste wine, basic wine terms, and how to differentiate between wines that appeal to you. The class is interactive and it’s only two hours long, taking participants through five different types of wines. The starting price is $25 and you’ll need to buy the specific wines ahead of time. Sign up here. 
3. Virtual with Us. Although this class was created as an activity for business colleagues to virtually socialize, it’s also great for groups of eight or more. The company curates top wines and works with sommeliers and wine professionals. Starting at $200 a person, this class is pricier than others, but it includes premium wines, sommelier fees, event planning fees, and all shipping and taxes. Sign uere. 
4. Bouchaine Vineyards. Hosted by a winery in Napa, Bouchaine Vineyards offers 50-minute virtual tasting sessions (Winemaker 101, 201, and 301) for all levels of knowledge and experience. Each class is taught overlooking the beautiful estate vineyards, and you’ll be able to set a time that works with your schedule. Classes start at $59 and include two, three, or four wines from the vineyard depending on the class level and are shipped directly to you. Sign up here. 
5. Wine.com. The popular website tapped winemakers and wine critics for virtual wine and spirits tastings. Hosts of the classes will share stories about winemaking, artistry, and entrepreneurship, and all classes are free. The wine or spirits that go along with the tastings can be purchased directly from wine.com. Sign up here. 

Wonder what it’s like to work at the BOSS Logics office? Scroll through the photos below to take a look at our home base. Last year when we decided to redesign our office, we decided one of the greatest ways to give our team members a voice was to decorate the space based on their suggestions. We’re so glad with home it came out and can’t wait until we’re able to safely work together inside once again! 

Are you feeling a bit burnt out from your job? If you are, it’s completely normal —  we all feel stressed and overwhelmed at times. Job burnout often results in reduced accomplishments and productivity and may have you feeling exhausted. If you’re seeing signs of burnout, consider these tips to help you get back on track. 

1. Ask your supervisor if you can change up your responsibilities. Working with the same clients or on the same projects over and over can feel mundane and exhausting. Changing up your clients or day to day tasks will give you a completely fresh perspective on your work life. 
2. Take some time off. Use your well-deserved vacation days to get away from your computer and responsibilities for a few days, and make sure to avoid checking your work email. If you have the means, take a trip —  a change of scenery is sure to help you recharge and distract you from any thoughts of your job. 
3. Get lots of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep per night, exercise a few times a week, and eat clean. Taking proper care of your body will enhance your mind. 
4. Take a break from caffeine. Although coffee may seem harmless, it’s easy to quickly become dependent on it. And too much can negatively impact your sleep and strain your heart. Try switching to water or tea for a few weeks and see if your concentration improves. 
5. Find an activity to help release your stress. Physical activity is the best way to relieve stress and feel those endorphins. It’s important to release any frustration or stressors —  otherwise it’ll continuously build up until you explode (metaphorically, of course).

Balancing your work life and personal life can be a challenge. Sometimes it’s hard to leave work in the office or your personal life at home —  however, creating a balance between the two is important in order to maintain a healthy well-being. A good work-life balance leads to reduced stress and greater happiness, so we’re breaking down our top tips for creating a harmonious balance. 

One of the most important tools in creating a healthy work-life balance is to set boundaries. Set specific work hours and stick to them. It’s important to make the distinction between when you’re working and when you’re not. Otherwise, you might find yourself answering emails or taking calls over the weekend or late at night. Boundaries are important to help prevent you from being consumed with work-related thoughts during personal time. 

Making time for both yourself and your friends and family is crucial in creating a successful work-life balance, as well. Although your job is important, your life does not need to revolve around it. It’s necessary to carve out “me time” with yourself, and to find time to unwind and catch up with your loved ones. 

Perhaps the most significant factor in creating a healthy work-life balance is finding a job that makes you happy. It’s not essential to love every aspect of your work, but finding a job that brings you excitement and a sense of fulfillment will help ensure that you lead a balanced life. It’s also important to remember that it’s impossible to create a perfect work-life balance. There will be times when you might have to spend more time than you would prefer on work, while sometimes your personal life might take precedence. A proper balance takes time to create —  it does not happen overnight and it ebbs and flows with time. 

We could all use some extra motivation in our lives, right? If you’re in a rut or feeling uninspired, sometimes the best incentive to encourage productivity is reading some motivational quotes from people who have accomplished so much. We’re rounding up our top five quotes that keep us inspired and help us take initiative.

1. “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” —  Walt Disney

It’s easy to talk about going after a dream like starting your own business or taking a job in a new field, but the only way to accomplish this is to take your words and turn them into actions. 

2. “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility.” —  Michelle Obama

Although making a major life decision might be intimidating, it’s important to enter any new challenge or opportunity with an open mind about the possibilities of a greater life and increased happiness. 

3. “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington

We must remember that nobody is perfect. Once we accept that failure is inevitable and not something to be ashamed of, we can begin working toward success. Every person’s success story has bouts of failure. 

4. “You can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them.” – Shonda Rhimes

Cross lines that no one has dared to cross before. The only way to make a difference is to be bold and fearless in what you do. 

5. “The big secret in life is that there is no secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you’re willing to work.” – Oprah Winfrey

Nothing will be handed to you, but if you put in the work, your ideas will become reality. Make sure to set goals and keep yourself accountable for achieving them — if you set your mind to it, you’ll accomplish it.