Get excited Chicago! South Loop is set to open its first affordable Coffee & Coworking Incubator to serve underrepresented entrepreneurs! Recently, I had the pleasure of getting a first look of the space and I am beyond impressed and excited for all that it has to offer!

Momentum Coffee & Coworking is the name and they are an open-to-the-public café, serving Dark Matter Coffee, that doubles as a fully resourced coworking space available to members on a monthly, weekly or even hourly basis.

Members enjoy affordable access to:

• High Speed Fiber/ Internet

• Professional Office Equipment to Copy, Scan and Fax

• Conference Room for up to 8 people

• Event Space for 100 people

• Special Discounts

Momentum, is the Newest Venture from Ignite Technology & Innovation, a nonprofit whose mission is to create equitable wealth and a shared prosperity in under-resourced communities by developing affordable coworking spaces. Momentum Coffee & Coworking furthers this mission by offering its community’s entrepreneurs easy access to business technology, resources, mentorships and potential partners.

 “Coworking means ‘collaborative working,’ and it’s the future of value-creation in our communities,” explains Tracy Powell, CEO of Ignite. “With superior flexibility and savings, Momentum aims to inspire, encourage and grow the ideas of local entrepreneurs who may have been priced out by expensive national coworking models.”

You can follow Momentum Coffee & Coworking on Instagram @MomentumCoffeeChicago and visit their website https://www.momentumcoffee.org/en to be the first to know about it’s Grand opening, incentives, and media appearances. 

By the time this COVID-19 pandemic is over I’ll be in a wheelchair, hooked up to an IV and shriveled as a prune left out in the sun.

I’m not doing anything to transform from being energetic, healthy and cute as the Pillsbury Doughboy, I’m just reading the newspapers and learning how vulnerable I am as part of the country’s frail, vulnerable and pitiful elderly population.

But enough already. Stop loading us on icebergs and pushing us out to sea.

Of course there are physical losses associated with aging. I get it that my lungs are “less elastic” than a teenager’s. I understand there’s a likelihood my immune system has weakened to an extent. But those possibilities do not put me at death’s door! I can’t run as fast as I did when I was twenty but walking ten thousand steps a day still is easy peasy.

Of course I’m taking preventive measures to avoid the virus. I accept the statistics that recommend extra precautions for us seniors. But am I being overly sensitive to the media’s focus regarding the nation’s elders, from being sages and mentors to being beggarly and dare I say it, disposable? Clearly the stereotype that pictures America’s older demographic as enfeebled and dependent is gaining credence with each passing day of the pandemic.

I accept it when my wife takes over the daily grocery run because her approach is, “let’s play it safe.” I wouldn’t be so sanguine with a “tut tut, you poor dear, get some rest and have a cup of tea.” And that’s my concern; that the nation’s attitude toward it’s seniors will be adversely affected by morons like Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is of the opinion that old people, i.e. those most at risk, should volunteer to die to save the economy.

I’m protesting because stereotypes of aging in our contemporary culture, already are primarily negative, depicting later life as a time of ill health, loneliness, dependency and poor physical and mental functioning. This adverse thinking cannot help but reinforce ageism and to position old age as undesirable, when in fact, it can be the most rewarding and enriched period in one’s life!

In addition to a lowered self-esteem, implicit negative age stereotyping can affect the performance of older men and women. A study by the National Institute on Aging reported that exposure to negative age stereotypes led to lowered performance in tests of memory, handwriting skills and walking ability. Well, if that’s what they’re saying, then it must be true!

If behooves those of us who are energetic and healthy to highlight what is possible in later life, so as to motivate our compatriots to become more active and health conscious. We must make sure that increased negative stereotyping is not a side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a business owner, you’re always looking for the best and most cost-effective ways to move your products from point A to point B. Choosing a shipping company isn’t as easy as signing a contract with the first one that crosses your path. What should you look for in a shipping company, and what should you avoid to create a successful partnership?

Look at Registration and Licensing

You will need to ensure the shipping company is licensed and registered in the country where you operate. There are domestic and international companies, but regardless of their port of origin, they will need to be licensed in your nation as well. If you operate in the United States, for example, any company that you choose to work with should be able to give you their NVOCC number that is registered with the Federal Maritime Commission.

International companies are primarily associated with ASMA, FDI or RIM — all of which are equally qualified organizations with good reputations and superb customer service.

Check for Insurance

Regardless of how much or how little you’re shipping, you should insure your property to protect yourself if something is lost or damaged in transit. There are usually two options here.  Either you will be responsible for insuring each shipment, or the shipping company will offer coverage, incorporating those costs into the overall price of shipping.

Either way, make sure you have an insurance policy that will protect your products during transport.  One bad storm or unsealed container could cost you thousands of dollars otherwise, even if it’s something you had no control over.

Determine Your Average Order Size

Next, take a look at your average order size. This will determine the kind of shipping company you want to contract with. If you’re only ordering small amounts or ordering infrequently, entering into an expensive contract with a shipper might not be the most cost-effective option.

This is one variable to keep in mind when you’re shopping around. Being aware of your average order size can give you the tools to negotiate a contract that will work best for you.

Consider Tracking Tools

While consumers might enjoy tracking their individual orders as they make the journey from the warehouse into their waiting hands, these tracking tools are also vital when you’re looking for a shipping company. If they don’t offer tracking tools, it might be a sign you need to choose a different company. Tracking tools are essential, especially if you’re waiting for supplies or components necessary to keep your business moving forward. Find a company that offers real-time tracking so you can see updates as frequent as every 10 seconds.

Check into tracking tools to ensure they’re available, user-friendly and meet your company’s needs.

Review Safety Records

You should always look for a shipping company that maintains a clean safety record. Not only does this ensure your shipments won’t be delayed by accidents or injuries on the job — in most cases — but it also means you’re dealing with a company that is going to take just as much care with your cargo as they do with their employees.  If you’re shipping by land, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allows you to request a company’s safety record report.

For sea-based cargo companies, you may be able to request safety reports from the Federal Maritime Commission or its counterpart in whatever country the company operates in. You may also be able to obtain these reports by approaching the company directly. Those with nothing to hide will happily share their safety reports, while those with a less-than-stellar safety record will try to discourage you from seeking them. They may also refuse to turn them over entirely. Avoid those companies in favor of those with a positive safety record.

Negotiate for Discounts

One of the biggest parts of choosing a shipping company is the negotiation phase. You don’t have to accept the contract as it’s first laid out, especially if there are clauses you don’t agree with or would negatively impact your company. Have a skilled contract lawyer in your corner and go into your meeting prepared to negotiate for the kind of contract that will benefit both you and the shipping company.

This can even include negotiating for discounts for things like high-volume orders, especially if they coincide with your busy seasons. You’ll still be paying for each shipment, but you may be able to negotiate the price down to help you save money while you’re building a strong business relationship with your shipper.

Choosing the Right Shipping Company Makes All the Difference

Choosing a shipping company for your business isn’t something that should be taken lightly. There are several variables to consider, from your budget to the company’s country of origin and even the frequency and weight of your shipments. Don’t sign a contract with the first shipper that crosses your path, and don’t sign anything without the assistance of a skilled contract lawyer. That’s doesn’t just apply to negotiations with a shipping company — that should be your rule of thumb for any contract negotiations.

If you’re mindful and aware of all the variables that go into choosing a shipper, you may only have to go through this process once while you’re in business. Protect yourself and your investment and be smart about the companies you choose to associate yourself with. If you select the right shipper, you can look forward to a long and successful partnership,

As the uninvited visitor stalks the streets of America, how do we deal with the stress of the pale rider known as the coronavirus?

Time to dust off another skill I developed whilst living abroad for 20 years. Without a work visa or the ability to get one, I had to find other ways to spend my time living in challenging third world lands. Exercise became one of those ways.

The skills had began at the ripe, young age of 21 while still in university. Beginning to have back problems due to scoliosis, the book Miss Craig’s 21 Day Shape Up Program for Men & Women entered my life. Not too different from DVDs I still use almost 50 years later.

Carefully following the book’s illustrations, each night I followed a cotton leotarded Miss Craig as she demonstrated the exercises. One required a tennis ball to roll out on, early version of the Yamuna, Pilates and Jill Miller balls that I still use today.

My first group class was a yoga class on a towel in Lima, Peru where I learned more Spanish than yoga. My mother-in-law’s BFF was a British dance teacher who use the Royal Academy of Dance system, teaching  a morning ballet-based exercise class with live piano accompaniment.

Back in the USA working full time and all the overtime that I could find while my husband went to graduate school, exercise fell to the wayside except for hand juicing grapefruits that fell from 4 grapefruit trees at our rented one bedroom home.

Then in 1981 came Jane Fonda’s Workout Book. With a new baby and pre-schooler, I loved those moments when I could open my Jane Fonda book and “do Jane.” Babies make great free weights!

Moving to Puerto Rico and then on to Curacao, Jane’s book moved with us. She didn’t even need a work permit visa.

Then a game changer-videotape. I could watch Jane, making following an exercise routine so much easier, no pesky pages to flop closed or to another page.

That precious video was my class for years. Sometimes the videotape was popped into the machine in an empty house as a dozen friends did Jane. I’d go to the back of the class given that the music and cues told my well-trained brain and muscles what was next. At home under ceiling fans, I’d do Jane alone, or with my chum D–, as our third friend N– sat on a cushioned bamboo chair smoking and commenting about how fabulous, hard working we were.

Well it was 1984.

In 1986 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, at back-to-school night I met the youngest daughter of my Peruvian dance/exercise teacher, S–. Since she too was a dance teacher and I had an aspiring dancer, 8-year-old daughter, I talked S into teaching dance to Jennie.

It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship with S– as she opened dance school that grew and grew.

One day S– said that the expat ladies were begging her to teach a morning exercise class, but “Candace, I’ll only do it if you come too.” Grumbling that I didn’t DO group classes, preferring videotapes and I didn’t have access to a vehicle often, S– said, “I’ll pick you up too.” So I went with S– three times a week to her group ballet exercise class. Within a dozen or so more years, S–‘s dance school had exploded to over 250 students.

Once back in the USA, it was back to videotapes. The Jane Fonda videos were joined by Karen Voight workouts that a dance teacher friend recommended as the collection grew. Somewhere between living in Connecticut, Mexico City and St. Louis, videotape was replaced by DVD. The best of my collection was repurchased, with their older stretched out videotapes versions retired.

Today my curated collection includes: Rodney Yee, Leslie Sansone, Jill Miller, Karen Voight, The Melt Method, Eli Newsom, Ana Brett/Ravi Singh, Yamuna, my local Tai Chi teacher’s homemade DVD and my current go-to-on most days, the 4-disc/40 routines by the inimitable  Miranda Esmonde-White.

Ω

When my darling mother-in-law lived with us abroad for 3 months at a time, she’d watch me workout as she sipped coffee. How was I so disciplined?

I told her it was easy. When not exercising meant I had pain in my back, exercising was easy. And now with the stress of the uninvited visitor, coronavirus, I’ve no where to go and no excuse not to do a routine a day. So please excuse me, while I go do Miranda.