The Most Affordable States for Bowhunting

Originally posted on SeanCarothers.net

In addition to providing a solid workout, bowhunting is also a great way to connect with the outdoors. For many hunters, though, finding the right location can be cost-related as well. Here’s a list of five of the most affordable states for bowhunting for nonresidents.

Ohio

Annual Nonresident Hunting Fee: $141.50, Deer Permit: $41

What else would you expect from the Buckeye State? Ohio’s archery season runs long, from late September to early February. The one drawback is the state’s high percentage of privately owned land, with only about 5 percent open to the hunting public. Still, there’s also a high percentage of white-tailed deer, which makes the trade-off worth it.

 

Nebraska

Nonresident Habitat Stamp: $25, Deer Permit $242

Nebraska’s low population and abundance of untamed land makes it a hunter’s paradise. Generally, the fees cover the hunting of both whitetails and mule deer (see the state’s outdoor sport website for more information). Try your luck in the less-populated central and western areas of the state to get a leg up on the competition (though there probably won’t be much).

 

Missouri

Nonresident Hunting Fee: $225

Bordered by Kansas and Iowa, the Show-Me State offers a nutrition-rich habitat with relatively mild winters, both of which contribute to its thriving whitetail population. The fee allows hunters to tag two deer of either gender (though only one antlered buck is allowed prior to November 11 this year), and two turkeys (tom or hen) are also included in the fee.

 

Kentucky

Annual Hunting License: 140, Statewide Deer Permit: $120

With over a million and a half acres available for public hunting, Kentucky provides great bang for your buck (pun intended). Due to a brutally low deer population from the 1930s to the ’80s, the state may have fallen off the radar as far as hunting is concerned, but the issue has since seen a significant turnaround. Today, the area is home to over 900,000 whitetails.

 

North Dakota

Nonresident Fees: Fishing, Hunting, and Furbearer Certificate: $2, Game and Habitat License: $20, Deer License $250

To be perfectly blunt, there isn’t a whole lot to do in North Dakota besides hunt–something that won’t bother anyone who’s traveled there for the express purpose of bagging a buck.

Preventing Injuries and Accidents While Skiing

Originally published on SeanCarothers.org

The sport of skiing is one that comes with a high risk of injury given the speeds you can reach and equipment you are wearing. While newer technology and improved gear have been direct causes for decreased injuries as of late, the risk always remain present.

Of the most common injuries, 43% occur to the knee due to the constant stopping and turning that comes with riding down the slopes. Ski boots and newer binding technology have helped in preventing serious leg injuries, however, ligament damage remains a prevalent issue among avid skiers. While this is just one of many possible injuries, skiing safely and knowing how to prevent accidents is crucial when on the slopes.

First, make sure you are checking the quality of your equipment before and after every ski season.Typically, ski, boots, and poles (to name a few pieces of gear) will last roughly 3-5 years before the wear and tear begins to take its toll. Professionals recommend going no more than 80-100 days without replacing your skis.

Once you’re ready to hit the slopes, wearing the proper safety equipment is another obvious factor that goes into injury prevention. Protective jackets, pants, gloves, and hats should always be worn, and helmets should be considered for the less experienced skiers or more adventurous ones. Goggles are often important as well, especially when the conditions do not provide adequate visibility. In the event of rain, snow, or even extreme sunlight, goggles can improve your vision greatly. All of this gear can keep your body temperature regulated as well should the weather call for freezing conditions.

Always be mindful of your surroundings. Aside from knowing which slopes fit your skill set best and avoiding the more challenging ones, knowing how to safely ski down said slopes is just as important. Never reach speeds outside of your comfort zone and always keep a safe distance between you and other skiers. Similarly, be considerate of those around you. Understand acceptable speeds given the type of slope (slower speeds on beginner courses), and never stop suddenly in the middle of your run, or make dangerously quick cuts or turns.

One aspect of skiing safety that often falls by the wayside is fatigue. If you are beginning to feel tired after a long day of skiing, throw in the towel. The most ski injuries occur around 3:00 p.m. on average due to increased fatigue, warmer temperatures, and slippery conditions following the melting of the snow.

Lastly, it is crucial to know the locations of all ski patrol teams or crew members in the event of a serious accidents. Signs will be posted around the resort with emergency phone numbers listed as well. Saving these to your mobile device (if handy) is always good practice.

How to Effectively Manage a Construction Company

Originally posted on SeanCarothers.com

Managing a construction company demands that you be a Jack of all trades at times. Ensuring there is both financial and constructive management, as well as proper planning, marketing, and company morale can be a bit like juggling a bunch of different plates all at the same time. Things may get messy. What if things didn’t have to seem so unclear and unstable, though? Why not lay it all out and create a base that makes it seem much more tangible. With this guide, you’ll surely be on your way to an organized and successful start to managing your construction company.

An important place to begin is in the planning of your business structure and mission. What is it you hope to achieve with this company? What are your long-term goals? Who are your target clients? Where are your target locations? By starting here with asking yourself these questions, and more, you ensure that several months down the line, there are still plans for increasing company growth and the drive for more opportunities for success.

Planning ahead assures workers there are more projects to come and therefore more things to look forward to in the future, which ends up boosting work ethic, optimism, and even the employer-to-employee relationship. If employees can trust their manager to prioritize them by taking the time to connect while still gaining momentum on projects, those employees will then approach their work with more appreciation and anticipation. A positive attitude and strong communication skills in the workplace can truly make all the difference.

Another important aspect of managing a construction company is making sure all areas of financial management are being addressed. Having a staff that trusts you and a mission the company strongly stands by is only a part of the equation; if an employee’s trust in the company can bleed into the security of company finances, your workers will be more willing to cooperate.

Establishing a level of transparency in finances between company management and employees, workers might be able to trust you as much as you trust them. Financial management in construction includes factoring in all the costs of safe, dependable, and quality equipment, the obtaining of proper clearances, and calculating any loans or additional operational costs in the business model.

By approaching it with financial surety and the drive for strong company morale, your construction management will have an abundance of opportunities to grow. Start from the very beginning with all the nitty gritty, and build your company from the ground up. With this all in mind, you’ll be off to a successful start.

Maintaining Motivation in the Startup World

Originally posted on SeanCarothers.com

If you work in the startup world, you understand the great deal of stress you may have to deal with on a daily basis. Of course, that comes with the territory. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t stay motivated and excited throughout the day. Avoid burnout by using the following tips to stay on top of your game:

Make Your Mission Bigger

Startups are a major commitment for anyone. However, it can be tempting to make everything about the bottom line. That might be in the form of signups, new users, investor reports, or revenue. The reality is that while these are important metrics, you need to focus on the bigger picture. Have a purpose that is bigger than your startup. Other than making money, what does your company do to really make a difference in the lives of others?

Have a Mindfulness Practice

Mindfulness or meditation is simply the practice of slowing things down. When you are used to flying through life at top speed, it can be difficult to find the time for yourself. So take a few minutes each day, hopefully in the morning, and let yourself relax and focus on your breathing. It will give you fresh energy for more motivation.

Get the MIT Done First

The MIT, or “most important task,” is the number one thing you need to do that day. Sometimes people lose motivation because they get overwhelmed by everything on their plate. The trick is to get the major priority out of the way. Then, your motivation will soar because the biggest part is already finished.

Connect with Coworkers

No one can do it alone. Don’t be the martyr that works themselves to the bone on an isolated island. Reach out to coworkers whenever you can. When you connect with your peers, not only do you get the motivational benefit of socializing, but you also feel more excited about helping them succeed in their lives and in the startup.

When it comes to startups, no one ever said they were easy. At first, you might have no problem being motivated. However, after a while you might find yourself feeling down and out. Don’t get caught up in negative thinking. Instead, embrace the ideas above so you always have a well of energy to pull from, no matter the challenge.

Outside Sources of Entrepreneurial Inspiration

Originally published on SeanCarothers.com

The life of an entrepreneur doesn’t just end after the business day. Every successful entrepreneur needs a life that is well-rounded in order to improve themselves and their business on every level possible. Here are some important tips to consider in your work-life balance that will undoubtedly make you a better entrepreneur.

Surround Yourself with the Right People

Being well connected is imperative to your success as an entrepreneur. Have friends that are like-minded and have similar drives and desires as you. This will not only help push you to be your best self but also create a network to share ideas and tips.

Maintaining a positive social life outside the office will also keep you sharp and tune your abilities to interact with people. This will relate to your ability to run a business by keeping you eloquent and sharp. As you make more connections you will undoubtedly also befriend people who can benefit your business in numerous ways.

Travel the World

Seeing the world and immersing yourself in different cultures will not only make you a better-rounded person but also improve the qualities necessary to be a successful entrepreneur.

Traveling will tune your problem-solving skills and people skills. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone and will learn how to interact with people of different cultures and backgrounds. You may even learn new things about how to run and improve your business while abroad.

In addition to these benefits, traveling can also serve as a vacation. It will give you space to get away from the labor of work and take a step back to think about where your business is going. Here are some suggestions for great places to visit, specifically geared toward entrepreneurs.

Always Find Ways to Keep Learning

There are so many ways to learn, from reading books to attending classes, to picking up new skills. Learning new things is critical to becoming a well-rounded person, which directly impacts your success as an entrepreneur.

There are also many ways to view business and to improve, and learning new skills and becoming more knowledgeable will extend your ability to adopt varying perspectives and modes of thoughts. Reading is great for stress relief while also absorbing new information as well. Research from the University of Sussex says it can reduce stress by as much as 68 percent.

Take Care of Yourself

Taking care of yourself is the most important takeaway from this list, and undoubtedly encompasses all the other points. It crucial to your function because if you can’t take care of yourself it will be near impossible to take care of your business. Make sure you are eating well, taking time to do the things you love, sleeping well, and getting sufficient exercise. Your businesses well-being and growth will undoubtedly parallel your own.

Handling Constructive Criticism as an Entrepreneur

Understanding and recognizing all of your faults, mistakes, and weaknesses can be a hard pill to swallow, but is critical in the business world. It’s an innate characteristic for a person to refuse to listen to something they don’t want to hear. A plethora of excuses stems from this as to why hearing such negative comments will only result in added negativity. However, addressing these head-on and working to correct them is the surest, fastest way to remedy them.

For individuals who consider themselves positive thinkers, simply hearing negative comments are believed to invite negativity into one’s life. People who may have busier schedules feel as though they don’t have time to sit and listen to feedback. Many entrepreneurs today fall in line with the latter.

Failing to accept criticism in any form is hindering progress (assuming that criticism is constructive). Entrepreneurs and business leaders must learn to accept criticism with humility, taking away valuable lessons from the conversation. This can be difficult for some, but should be seen as an opportunity for improvement, which, in the long-run, almost always translates to success.

Being open and inviting is key when receiving feedback. It allows you to immediately address any concerns of your employees or of your own, and make the necessary changes in order to improve daily interactions. This will benefit both employee and customer interactions, as well. Entrepreneurs and business leaders should strive for this and constantly seek ways to improve themselves or their business. Simply being “good enough” is never actually enough.

Accepting constructive criticism allows business leaders to make valuable change that will result in happier customers and employees. This is another factor that could translate to better business, a.k.a. increased profits.

Consider this: every single business receives both positive and negative feedback from its customers and employees on a daily basis. It’s how businesses improve for both themselves and their consumers. Online reviews through Google or Yelp, for example, usually reflect a business accurately, barring angry individuals with personal vendettas. This gives the entire consumer world better insight on a given business’s operations.

While it can be tough to hear, constructive criticism is one of many keys to improve you or your company, but only for those willing to listen. What may be a few short minutes of having your faults highlighted will result in long-term success.

Originally posted on SeanCarothers.com

Iconic Skiing Experiences Everyone Should Try

Originally posted on SeanCarothers.org

Choosing a ski destination can vary greatly depending on your needs and what you may be looking for. Taking your family skiing, for example, may require you to seek out more local spots, or those designed for younger children. Skiing solo may compel you to seek out ski resorts far and wide, thus bringing up the issue of price. However, the following experiences should be considered by ski enthusiasts all over the world for a truly once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Heli-Skiing in Canada

While this may be reserved for more tenured skiers, heli-skiing is an incredible way to get up close and personal with some of the most secluded resorts in the world. In Canada specifically, heli-skiing and snowboarding is a wildly popular activity that can be found all over the country. There is no adrenaline rush quite like jumping out of a helicopter, and what better place to do it than in the countryside of one of the snowiest places on Earth?

Finland’s Famous Resorts

Alpine skiing in mountainous Finland is unlike any other winter experience in the world. As one of the most breathtaking European countries, Finland is full of icy forests, enormous lakes, and, of course, mountains that seem to go on forever. As an added bonus, many of the resorts around the country are generally uncrowded, the slopes of which are often suited for skiers of all skill levels.

Finland provides its visitors with more than just skiing, as well. Some of these include reindeer safaris, dogsledding, snowmobiles, and visiting one of the many downtown areas. If you plan to schedule your visit accordingly, you can even catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights.

Luxury Skiing in France

Val d’Isere is typically regarded as one of the top winter sports resorts in all of Europe, and for good reason. The resort is full of wine cellars, gourmet restaurants, movie theatres, outdoor hot-tubs, and campfire locations for family members of all ages. For skiers who want a little more pamper included in their trip, Val d’Isere is the perfect destination. The skiing itself is comparable to its culture; rich and bountiful, considering that it is still located in the mountains of France.

Journeying Japan

Most of the ski resorts found throughout Japan accumulate some of the deepest snow in the world. Niseko, specifically, is one of the most well known resorts in the country, averaging 11 meters of snowfall every year. This enormous ski town contains an array of slopes ranging from bunny hills to black diamonds, and even off-piste runs through winding trees and rocks. If the weather proves too warm for snow, the resort allows for some incredibly scenic hiking as well.

Heli-Skiing: An Overview of the Sport

Originally published on SeanCarothers.org

Ski enthusiasts around the world are very familiar with this extreme sport, but for those who may not have the same amount of experience, ‘heli-skiing’ can seem like a terrifying idea. While you don’t have to necessarily jump out of a helicopter from great heights, you do have to ride one to reach truly remarkable slopes, which many would argue is well worth the trip.

Heli-skiing allow skiers and snowboarders alike to access hard-to-reach areas for some truly adventurous downhill riding. These untouched slopes make for a unique experience in that many skiers are the first to ever reach them, and by helicopter to add to the excitement. The sights at these destinations are unlike any other, giving skiers bird’s-eye views of their surroundings, and a perspective of the mountains that is not attainable at any other point.

Derived from the actual word “helicopter,” heli-skiing (and heli-boarding) first began in 1960s Canada when hikers and skiers began to seek out new adventures, eventually stumbling upon the Canadian Rockies. This spawned the use of helicopters to access theses areas more quickly and conveniently for those wishing to ski down their enormous slopes.

Hans Gmoser is widely regarded as the founder of heli-skiing. He first began offering guided tours throughout the Canadian Rockies in 1965, and soon thereafter began to take advantage of helicopters to provide his guests with the most stunning views possible. He then created his heli-skiing business Canadian Mountain Holidays, which has since become the leading company in the heli-skiing world. CMH now operates out of 11 resorts around western Canada.

Today, heli-skiing is popular in countries all over the world. Italy, Chile, New Zealand, and the U.S. have all embraced this unique sport thanks to the mountainous regions of their respective borders. However, heli-skiing is prohibited in a few countries, those being Germany, Switzerland, and France due to conservationists claiming the use of helicopters is harmful to the environment and the mountains. The argument against this is that helicopters are accessing remote areas away from crowds and wildlife, leaving little impact on the environment. While this drums up some controversy, the sport itself remains a highly sought after adventure for winter sports enthusiasts everywhere.

Those attracted to extreme sports are constantly looking for new thrills, and heli-skiing is one of many ways skiers can satisfy that craving. While many resorts offer off-piste skiing areas and access to newer slopes, there is nothing quite like skiing down the side of a mountain unreachable by foot.

Differentiating a Doe from a Button Buck

A confusing and somewhat frustrating aspect of bowhunting whitetail deer is being able to tell the difference between a doe and a young buck. Depending on what you are hunting for, mistaking the two can be surprisingly common, unlike hunting buck who tend to stand out with their large antlers. Though harvesting doe is a necessity at times, understanding the differences between them and a button buck is still crucial; something that is much easier said than done.

The physical traits of a doe and button buck are extremely similar, but there are a few key characteristics to look out for. For one, adult does are much larger than younger bucks. They are typically taller and longer with a slight rectangular shape to their midsections. Their snouts are almost always longer as well, compared to a young buck’s shorter snout.

Because of their smaller size, fawns have more of a square midsection, as they are equally long as they are tall. Additionally, young males will have flat, stubbier heads. This is why they are referred to as “button bucks.” The buttons atop their heads are budding antlers. Female deer, whether fawns or does, will have much more rounded heads.

Behavioral traits are much more challenging to catch, though they can give away a deer that may be difficult to decipher. Button bucks are much less cautious when it comes to being out in the open. This is evident when observing a popular feeding ground. Young males will confidently trot out to eat, whereas females of all ages are much more timid, coming off as nervous.

Their behaviors are also differentiated when you take note of how many other deer they are traveling with. Does will stick together going off of the notion that there is safety in numbers, but button bucks generally travel solo. Should you come across a small herd of just two, chances are the larger deer is a young male. Herds of three or more typically include a parent doe somewhere in the mix.

It’s important to note that deer are much more easily defined from a higher position where their pedicles are clearly visible. Always take advantage of some basic hunting gear to do so, such as binoculars and a field guide. Once you’ve mastered the art of identifying each type of whitetail deer, your bowhunting abilities will begin to improve tremendously.

3 Things to Examine Before Expanding Your Business

Every entrepreneur wants to start a business with the mindset that they will one day need to expand. After all, that is a necessity that comes with success. While it is certainly a positive aspiration, it can be extremely challenging for individuals who have never had to take on such a demanding task.

To start, think of expansion as having come from a strong foundation. Obviously, scaling your business can only be done once your goods or services have been deemed valuable, thus requiring growth to continue that success.

Take a step back and make a note of the your average customer tenure. Do your customers leave after a short period of time to find business elsewhere? Are lost customers easily replaceable? A strong business foundation is dependent on retention and profit. With that said, the following business aspects should be closely examined before you decide to expand.

Customer Service

We’ve all heard the phrase “The customer is always right.” While this is widely considered too forthright for today’s business standards, there’s no denying that good customer service is absolutely vital to a company’s success. Effective business leaders know that operations are contingent upon the client’s happiness, and that simply losing them could cause irrevocable damage.

Expanding a business can only be done if it has hundreds, thousands, or millions of customers willing to spend money on its goods or services. While millions is unrealistic coming right out of the gate, marketing your brand as something that people want and need is a great way to reach a much broader audience. Look at Apple and the hundreds of incredible products they have developed over the years. They have become a staple in the tech world and are considered the most profitable company of all time.

Frequency of Mistakes

Being able to correct mistakes made on any level is a requirement for all businesses. The question is, how frequently are these mistakes being made, and are they resolved for good? If this can’t be managed on a smaller scale, it certainly won’t be more manageable upon expanding.

Mistakes are going to made. That is inevitable. Resolving these mistakes and ensuring they don’t occur again however, is up to you as the sole leader. This is something your customers and clients will pay attention to as well.

Level of Confidence

This may not be a measurable goal, but it carries a lot of weight in terms how much a business may be able to expand. A company can only grow as much as its founder wants it to. Because of that, a confident leader who aspires to expand beyond the realm of success is much more likely to get there than one who is afraid to take that next step.

The worst thing a business leader can do is become complacent. As Henry Ford said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”