NH Forge

NH Forge

Gregory

What Is GDPR And Why Does It Affect Businesses Worldwide?

by


“Secure Data – Cyber Security –” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by perspec_photo88

From this coming May, the European Union (EU) will implement a new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), designed to bring data protection legislation in line with the ways in which data is used in the 21st century. GDPR aims to give EU citizens and residents control over their own sensitive data, empowering them to be able to demand that organisations dispose of unneeded private information and do not share it with other third parties without the individual’s explicit permission.

At present, the UK’s data protection regulations are dictated by the Data Protection Act 1998, enacted after the EU Data Protection Directive 1995. The implementation of GDPR will supersede the existing legislation, unifying data protection rules throughout all EU member states. The Data Protection Act 1998 was formulated prior to the expansion of the internet and cloud technology, and this new legislation is designed to provide greater trust and transparency in the digital age. The EU estimates that the unification of data protection law across its member states will save European businesses around £2bn a year.

The GDPR will be active from 25th May 2018 and it’s important for businesses throughout the EU to be prepared. Severe fines for GDPR non-compliance are set to be dished out to organisations that fail to demonstrate their GDPR enforcement strategy on request. These fines, however punitive they may seem, are deemed necessary to ensure businesses take the protection of personal data seriously.


“Commission” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Andrew Gustar

Who does GDPR apply to?

The EU’s GDPR is applicable to those deemed to be ‘controllers’ and ‘processors’ of individuals’ sensitive data. A controller is someone in charge of why and how personal data is used – for instance an e-commerce website gathering users’ addresses and full names for marketing material distribution, while a processor is the organisation or individual that’s physically processing the data e.g. an IT service provider.

There’s one important thing to note for businesses based outside the EU. Controllers and processors of personal data of EU residents will still be bound by the rules of GDPR even if they are based in the United States, Australia or South-East Asia. More importantly, it is the controller’s responsibility to oversee their processor’s actions and ensure they abide by the GDPR legislation.

When can personal data be used under GDPR?

Put simply, controllers of individuals’ sensitive data must be able to demonstrate that the information they process is done so lawfully, transparently and for a specific, legitimate reason. Moreover, from the moment that reason/goal has been met, the personal data is deemed as no longer needed and must be disposed of accordingly.

In order to obtain individual consent to use sensitive data under GDPR, collectors must make it clear to their subjects what is going on, rather than utilise passive acceptance techniques that are currently commonplace, such as default opt-in subscriptions to newsletters. Controllers are also required to keep a diary of how and when individuals provided their consent. It is within the rights of said individuals to withdraw that consent whenever they see fit.

If your organisation’s current model for receiving user consent for personal data is not up to scratch with the new GDPR legislation, now is the time to overhaul your model and avoid unnecessary financial penalties when it is applied this summer – regardless of where you’re based.

Credit Repair 101: What Happens To Credit When Filing Bankruptcy

by

Financial health is considered as one of the most important aspects of a person’s life. However, there will be instances when your financial standing is not as good as you wanted it to be, no matter how hard you try. This could be because of the long list of monetary obligations you owe to your creditors and you do not have sufficient financial resources to pay them back. Scenarios like these may usually lead you to file for bankruptcy as you may view this as the best alternative to end your misery of paying debts. Sure, you will always have this option but you should also remember that filing for bankruptcy is not all good. When you file for bankruptcy, your credit score may be seriously affected. If you still don’t get the connection between your credit and bankruptcy, read on to know more:

  1. Bankruptcy Damages Your Credit Score A Lot – There is no better way to describe the possible negative effects brought by filing a bankruptcy to your credit. During these times, you have to expect the worst that may possibly happen to your credit score, you can learn more here: https://www.crediful.com/bankruptcy-on-your-credit-report/. This financial hardship is said to be one of the worst scenario cases that may occur when dealing with your financial obligations. It may drop down your good credit score depending on the actual value involved in the process. In this sense, the higher your credit is, the higher the decrease is. For example, when you possess a credit score of 800 or above, it may fall down to 200 or 300 points. At some point, it may appear impossible to rehabilitate your financial health and difficult to handle the major decline of your credit. The damage is obviously huge that it would require you to improve how you manage your financial goals.
  2. Filing For Bankruptcy Might Mean Financial Difficulties For You – So you think that when you file for bankruptcy, everything is resolved, right? You’re wrong! Because even if you file for bankruptcy, you are still required to shed off a certain amount of money. You need money to pay for all of the filing fees so you can ensure that this process will be as smooth as possible. Aside from the filing fees, this process also requires you, to take a financial management course and credit counselling – yes, this means that you have to pay for all of these. If you don’t have any savings the moment you filed for bankruptcy, your only option to pay for all of these is by acquiring credit and acquiring too much credit is never good for your financial standing. You might be able to pay for all the requirements before and after the bankruptcy but you might be covered in another set of credits after everything is done.
  3. Bankruptcy Helps in Weakening the Negative Effects on Your Credit In The Long Run – The filing of bankruptcy will most likely hurt your credit score the moment you file for one. This might also have adverse effects with how you plan and restructure your current financial well-being. But this result is only temporary as it may also become a way to rebuild your credit score over time. The record of the filing for bankruptcy may affect your credit score value as it can be seen in your credit report but its influence may decrease as time passes by. You may gradually see how bankruptcy will slowly restore your good credit. This transition will only require time before your credit will be back on the right track. This is primarily because you are no longer in a difficult state of satisfying your financial responsibilities since you do not owe numerous debts anymore. As a result, your credit utilization rate will be enhanced. You just have to wait until your record of bankruptcy will be removed from your credit history because by that time, your credit will be restructured again. However, you have to endure the 10-year period of low credit score value until it will gradually bring to a sound financial status – this is certainly something that is worth waiting for!

These are few things that may happen when you file for bankruptcy. This situation is usually regarded as a desperate move when the need arises and when you’re in a washed up situation. But the negative effects of this financial move can be lessened by knowing how to restore credit. Rebuilding your credit is one of the best options to take after a tremendous financial downfall for several months. Filing of bankruptcy may lead you to re-establishment of new credit accounts after the lapse of ten years. By that time, it is suggested that you design and plan your credits well to avoid the dilemma of having to file for bankruptcy again. For instance, paying off your financial duties on-time and having the money saved to do so each month may eventually increase your credit score. This is the essence of constructing a positive payment record and providing an optimistic information in your credit report. As soon as you have gotten your new line of credits, make sure to create a progress plan so that you’ll be able to see and evaluate your credit performance. With this, you may prevent yourself from getting into monetary problems which will spiral over time.

How To Become Extremely Proficient In Forex Trading

by

Most people who enter the forex market usually go in unprepared for what lies ahead. They open an account, invest a lot of money right from the get-go, lose it all and quit before even learning the basics.

When it comes to forex trading, experience is as important as possessing the right tools and mathematical skills. And the truth is, that experience can be gained only by trial and error. Practicing, analyzing what works and doesn’t will give you an edge over other traders. Without further ado, here are a few tips that will help you become extremely proficient in forex trading.

Risk and Money Management

In a market as volatile and complex as forex, money and risk management is essential if you want to get ahead. Various factors, such as shifting economic policies, political instability or a banal news article can influence currency rates in both directions.

As a result, you need to time your trades right, only when good opportunities arise. Simply throwing money at random will not yield the best results. Bruce Kovner, for example, borrowed $3,000 against his credit card early in his career and almost everything when his $40,000 growth dropped to $23,000. This experience taught him the importance of proper risk management.

When it comes to risk management, there are a few things you can do to manage it properly:

  • Increasing the number of indicators. While this will lower risk, it will prevent you from taking riskier deals that might end up profitable.
  • Mastering the leverage technique. Basically, you have to learn when, how much to borrow and internalize the market dynamics. Famously, Soros mastered leveraging and accumulated a massive fortune as a result.
  • Studying liquidity. Make sure there are enough buyers and sellers to efficiently take your trade.
  • Be aware of the odds. To use odds in your favor, you have to learn how to perform a technical analysis.

Develop Good Working Habits

Forex is as much about charts, currencies and confusing equations as it is about hard work, good instincts and a keen sense of market dynamics. As in life, there is no 100% guaranteed way to become a good forex trader. Nobody is perfect at it. But if you practice, you will get better each day. One might think you have to be a finance expert, but every guide that teaches forex trading for beginners will stress the mental and work discipline aspects.

Therefore, you have to develop good working habits. The first step is to never procrastinate. Even if it is ‘’a slow forex day’’ and nothing interesting is going on, even something simple as checking a chart, noting a few numbers down, doing some research or reading industry related news will keep you active. The idea is to keep working and not let the tedium overwhelm you.

The next step is to practice. If you feel like you have mastered the basics and are ready to get in with the big players, then you are not ready. In forex, self-awareness and a desire to constantly improve are key. Setting up a demo funding forex account and practicing on it is a good way to get a feel of this activity.

Note Everything in a Journal

As you are gaining experience and increase the number of tasks you are performing, it is easy to lose track of all past trades and results. That is why keeping a thorough journal is essential.

You can note down on everything, from daily currency and interest rates, charts, past trades, personal or technical observations of the market to tidbits of relevant news articles. As long as it is structured and sufficiently annotated, every piece of information deserves a spot in the journal. By doing this, it will help you get a clear image of your activity. Moreover, since self-awareness and a desire to improve oneself are essential for success, the journal could also serve as an effective tool for constructive self-criticism.

This takes us back to a previous entry, in which we discussed why good work habits are essential and how to develop them. When it comes to forex, even when the market is clearly against you, the truth is that you are your own worst enemy. Ego can stand between you and a good trade, leading to frustration and missed opportunities. That is why it is good to nip it in the bud by noting down every failure as objectively as possible.

Finally, a trading journal will help you keep a historical perspective of your activity. No trade is similar to another and you never know when that one little, specific thing that went differently will help you score a huge amount of cash in a future trade.

Conclusion

People who want to get into forex trading and make money need to have (or develop) a very specific subset of skills. While some people are naturally predisposed with a keen business sense, that does not mean they will have everything served on a silver platter. That is why patience, consistency and hard work will, in time, do wonders to your trading efficiency.

Christopher Halajian on the Impact of Elections on Small Businesses

by

What few people consider is that elections have a tremendous impact on small businesses. While the subjects that candidates raise such as freedom of speech, military strife, police funding, immigration, and abortion are the ones most people follow, elections are just as much about how business is conducted. This is why Christopher Halajian feels there should be a greater emphasis on the impact of politics on business.

Christopher Halajian on Elections in New York

In places like Southold and Mattiuck, NY, politics are conducted largely through business channels. Lobbyists are placed in strategy places in political locations, doing what they can to influence how politicians think. Some of that is done the traditional way, over a drink at the country club, but trade associations and membership organizations lobby just as much.

You may feel that this is unfair, but the reality is that it is impossible for a single individual to understand all of the issues that matter in the town they work for. In fact, even a small geographical location such as an estate can have too many complexities. This is why politicians rely to heavily on their lobbyists and staff, who are the ones who find what matters in the constituency, be that the state of a popular route, the closure of a school, or small issues such as milk delivery on Monday.

The Obamacare document is a good example of how elected officials simply cannot know it all. The document contained 1,147,271 words, spread over 2,471 pages, and 700 directives. Nobody has time to read and digest that during their time in office! Instead, they simply go with the general consensus of their party.

So how does this link to small businesses? It is vital that a small business owner ensures they are heard. They must speak directly to their elected officials to make this possible. There are many forms of communication they can use for this, from visiting their office in person to enlisting the services of a lobbyist, but it must be done. This is because any small business that does not contact their representative to discuss their issues loses out to the small business owner that does. It is impossible to know what is on the agenda of those other businesses, and how what they are asking for will affect you.

Politics are complicated and most people don’t think they are particularly fair either. In reality, however, politicians are there to represent you, be you an individual or a business. They are not, however, magicians or fortune tellers. They will do their best for you, since that is what their job is, but you need to take the time out to tell them what you need them to do. You may feel as if that is an impossible task, since you do not have the financial backing that large lobbyists do, but anyone can make an appointment with their politicians and speak to them directly.

Joe Cianciotto: The best Marketing Strategies for New Businesses

by

It would be fair to say that the marketing world has been turned on its head over recent years. While traditional forms of marketing aren’t over just yet, there’s no doubt that the online world is taking over and at least making them more obsolete.

For the new business, this is ideal. The online landscape provides a lot more flexibility when it comes to marketing, and some might argue that it’s not all about how many dollars you can throw at a campaign (although this plays a significant role still).

Joe Cianciotto knows all about how marketing can be used to such immense effect for smaller businesses. In New York in particular he has been a witness to this first hand, and today we will take a look at some of the main suggestions he has to offer to the up-and-coming startup who is looking to get their name out.

The wonders of Facebook

For years, Facebook was regarded as the biggest social network in the world. Now, it’s one of the biggest advertising platforms.

The amount of granular detail that companies can target customers with is insane with this network. Whether it’s devising a campaign based on jobs, location or even general interests, Facebook has it all.

From a cost perspective, it tends to be based on a CPC model, meaning that you will pay every time somebody interacts with your ad. This can keep costs down substantially, and at least guarantee some traffic to your business (which can’t be said with pretty much every method of traditional advertising which is out there). Technology is winning for marketing your business. 

Google My Business

We’re going to assume that most small business owners have tapped into this feature before, but probably unwittingly. If you’re looking for a pizza at 11pm, and perform a quick Google search, you’ll be presented with all the nearby establishments that are currently open. This, my friend, is Google My Business.

The best part about this is that you don’t even have to pay for the privilege of being included. It’s all based on algorithms meaning that in some industries, where competition is low, you will appear prominently just for registering your site with Google My Business. 

Coupon websites

Last on our list is a suggestion honing in on coupon websites. Again, this is probably a service that most of you have used, with Groupon being one of the big players.

The way in which this works is a company placing a product on one of these websites, but at a huge discount. This discount isn’t the typical 5-10% off, but rather something in excess of 50%. Ultimately, it’s a gigantic saving and one that can push a huge number of customers to a company.

Of course, whether or not this brings in instant profit is a different matter in its entirety. However, for the small business that it looking to open its doors to new customers, it can be a very smart way of marketing.

Nenadi Esther Usman Looks at the 5Ps of Political Leadership

by

The world is facing a whole lot of challenges. To overcome those challenges, there is a real need for good political leaders. The world needs people like Nenadi Esther Usman, people who are ready to take on the world. What sets people like Esther Usman apart, is that they are not interested in just saying what people want to hear. They are about actually doing what they say as well.

Nenadi Esther Usman, from Nigeria, has seen the rise of the far right in many countries in the “developed world”. The United Kingdom has voted for Brexit, Poland has voted for the far right, and the United States have voted for Donald Trump. She fears that people in her own country will be inspired by this, when what is needed in Nigeria more than ever, is unity, rather than division. She has the skills, the experience, and the knowledge required to lead the country towards greatness and she hopes people will enable her to show that she embodies the 5 Ps of political leadership.

The 5 Ps of Political Leadership According to Nenadi Esther Usman

Personal agenda

First of all, voters need to be very much aware of the personal agenda of anyone wanting to earn their votes. A good political leader isn’t driven by self-interest. They are driven by sustainability and relevance. They care about the needs of their country and not about their own popularity.

Priorities

Everybody has priorities and there are no absolute wrongs or rights in that. Rather, it is vital that a political leader is open and honest about their priorities, so that people actually know what they vote for. Not just that, however, those priorities should not just be words. Rather, the politician should also put forward real, actionable, solutions.

Planning

Good politicians know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. They need to be clear about the changes they want to make and what their ultimate goal is, but they should also have a clear plan to actually achieve those goals. Again, this is about not making any empty promises.

Process

In order to take on a role in public service, a politician must understand the different challenges, alternatives, options, and nuances that are out there. They must make sure that they focus on processes that are sustainable and relevant. They also have to be consistent, because the electorate has expectations and those expectations have to be met.

Policies

Last but not least, a politician has to be able to go beyond populist promises and empty rhetoric and actually deliver on what they say by implementing policies. It is about clarity, and standing up for what they believe in.

Esther Nenadi Usman hopes that anyone who will be voting in Nigeria will review her own 5 Ps and determine, based on that, that she truly is the best representative for the country. She wants to make sure that people know what she stands for, so that she can truly deliver as well.

Robert Mims Memphis Helps People Choose the Right Golf Club for Their Needs

by

There are so many different golf clubs available, it can be difficult to choose the one that is right for you. You may have got the foundation of the sport right and read just about every guideline and report there is on golf clubs, it still feels like you need a university degree just to make sense of all of it. This is why you will be happy to know that Robert Mims Memphis, a CFO from Louisville, has put together a number of hints and tips that have been accepted and even cited by the entire golf community as being right.

Robert Mims Memphis on Determining Stages of Play

There is a big difference between a professional golfer and a casual one, of course. Hence, you need to determine where in between those two you fit. If you only want to play every once in a while, then you shouldn’t invest in high-end clubs, as you may as well steal your own money. However, if you’re serious about the game, then spending a bit more on higher quality is a good idea.

Working out Your Budget

You also need to determine what your budget is. Do not base this on how much money you have, but on what you actually need. And if what you want costs more than what you have, don’t be tempted to shoplift them! The only reason you will ever make the news then is because of your arrest and you may even find yourself fired. Instead, it may simply mean that you will have to save up for a few months, perhaps until August, until you can afford them.

Picking Your Golf Clubs

Now that you know what you want and how much that will cost, you need to get to know what the clubs actually are. As a rule of thumb:

  1. You will need at least a 1-wood, or driver. Furthermore, you should invest in a -3 and -5 wood, which are the fairway woods. The driver is the longest of all clubs at 45” and therefore also the hardest to control.
  2. You may want to invest in a blade-style iron, which is what a professional golfer will use. Here, the head is attached to a solid back. You can also opt for a hollow clubhead, which means you have a cavity back. This is better for beginners. There are short irons (8 and 9), medium irons (5, 6, and 7), and long irons (1, 2, 3, and 4). With shorter irons, you get a lot more loft and gameplay is therefore easier.
  3. Putters are the most used of clubs, and they come as mallet, heel-toe, and blade types. In terms of lengths, there are standard putters, broomstick putters, and belly putters. You need to find the one you are most comfortable with.
  4. You can also choose some hybrids, which are in between words and irons and perfect for beginner golfers. It also means that you don’t need to buy as many or spend as much.

Last but not least, if you are taller than 5’10” as a man or 5’5” as a woman, you will need to have a club with a non-standard length.

Picking The Right Beauty Salon For You

by

Beauty is a very important aspect of my life and through the years I have tried to find the perfect beauty spot which fits all of my needs. A day at the beauty salon for me, is about far more than just having a treatment done to make me look better, but rather a day of freedom, pampering, relaxation, gossip, beauty and most importantly, some me time.

After much searching I found my clinic Sono Bello after reading the Sono Bello reviews online and being impressed enough to try it out, that was 4 years ago and I have been a happy client ever since. I was chatting to a friend recently who had moved house and was looking for a new beauty salon to use. i thought I’d share the advice I gave her with you, to help you find the best beauty salon for you.

Start Online

The first place I would suggest that you start looking for beauty clinics and salons in your area is online. Here you will not only be able to search for salons in your local area, but you will also be able to see what other clients are saying about it. There are often beauticians who use small and hidden away locations in order to keep costs down, and you may not see them when you are out and about. Searching online can really help you to whittle down your options and find the right spot for you.

Treatments and Price Lists

The next step in helping you find the right place for you is to take a look at the list of treatments which the beauty salon offers, along with the prices. A quick bit of research online will show you what kind of prices you should be paying for various treatments and so you will be able to see pretty quickly whether or not the salon that you have found is legit. For example if a salon is charged way below the recommended price, it is fair to say that they may not be using the highest quality products, charge too high and you will not really have much desire to go and pay the higher fees.

Try It Out

I would recommend that you put together a list of the top 3 places near you and then go and try each one out with some simple treatments. What makes the best spa or salon is up to your personal preferences. You should be looking for here is the environment of the salon and how comfortable you feel, the way in which the staff are and also how good the treatment is. Make sure that you are pretty critical when you go into the salon and keep in mind what its pros and cons are. The only real way to find out which salon suits you best is to go yourself, but it is vital that you first go through a process of elimination in order to give yourself the best choices.

Jack Elway Reviews Whether College Football Predictions Are Any Good

by

Some people absolutely live for the College Football Predictions, something that is a direct result of the Bowl games. Bowl games were developed by Rose Bowl, who thought it would be fun to match up with other countries’ winning football teams. However, as Jack Elway has explained, there are just too many different colleges out there, playing thousands of demonstration games all year. So, if you place any value in College Football Predictions, you do need to take them wit a pinch of salt.

Jack Elway on the Origins of College Football Predictions

In 1970, the final polls got included for all football games. What it means was that these games started to develop into real, distinguished, serious matches. Not just that, it meant the game became better known in other countries as a result. This was also around the time of the BSC National Championship Game, which is why it is seen as the official year of the start of bowl games, cementing their role in the football season.

Expert Advice

If you want to know about predictions, you need to listen to experts like Jack Elway. If you are a college student yourself and you support our team, then you probably already know about all the different predictions that are out there in relation to your team. However, Elway warns that you should take advice with a pinch of salt. You may not want to hear any advice that places your team in a less than favorable light, but the advice that puts your team at the top may not be correct either.

That being said, predictions are absolutely vital for those who want to place a bet on the games, so they do carry some weight and they are scientifically calculated. Experts, and particularly those that do not affiliate themselves with just tone team, are good source. At the same time, the experts are as well. College sports team players are usually very honest in terms of their chances of winning or losing, or at least in terms of how difficult they may find it to win. That is a very good source if you want to place a bet, therefore.

Accurate Information

It is very important that you only get accurate information and that you are able to distinguish the truth from the lies. You need to think about why experts and team players are saying the things that they are, and why bookmakers are placing certain odds on games. A lot of that is down to supply and demand – the more people bet on a certain outcome, the less the payout is going to be if that outcome does actually happen. But that does not mean that those people have a reason to bet the way they do, other than everybody else is doing it.

Betting on college football needs to be seen as a fun sport, not an exact science. If you can’t afford to lose your bet, then you shouldn’t bet at all.

Dr. Adam Stein Raleigh NC: The Benefits of Facial Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery

by

Having elective surgery has become a more common exercise these days. Most people used to wince at the thought of voluntarily being made unconscious to have a surgical procedure performed. It has now however become commonplace in nearly every community, with practically all legal ages choosing elective surgery to improve or correct parts of their bodies.

In Raleigh North Carolina for example, Stein Plastic Surgery sees a wide range of patients. They come in requesting everything from liposuction to a tummy tuck, but they also request facial plastic surgery and there is a good amount requiring reconstructive surgery. Dr. Adam Stein Raleigh NC plastic surgeon approaches each of these patients with great consideration knowing that they must be given the highest quality of care.

These surgeries are not only performed for vanity, they can also be performed when someone has been in an accident, or has birth deformities, or deformities that have developed with age.

 Improved self-esteem

As much as we don’t like to admit it appearance plays a major role and how we feel about ourselves. We all like to look good and have others think we look good too. When we don’t think you look good, it can cause a major blow to our confidence.

Low self-confidence contributes to our not reaching our full potential. We don’t do well at work, we aren’t happy in our relationships, and we don’t feel the exuberance to go after the best that life has to offer.

Plastic and reconstructive surgery can play an important role in providing or re-establishing confidence. When someone chooses to improve or correct a visual part of their body, they are saying that they want to look better because looking better is important to them.

Health benefits

Many people would be surprised to find out how many people undo go plastic surgery because of health issue. Someone might be born with an unseen yet debilitating deformity, have suffered bodily damage from a disease, or been in an accident that caused an ongoing health issue.  Further, reconstructive surgery is often performed because of the health benefits.

If someone is born with too much tissue and a certain part of his or her face and neck, it can be the condition that causes health problems. Plastic surgery can alleviate all sorts of health conditions and is often used to do so. The doctor will often try and beautify any area that he is correcting because of health problem. In this way the patient gets dual benefits from the surgery.

More opportunities

Study after study has proven that the way someone looks determines the opportunities they receive in life. Although to some this seems like a shallow reality, none-the-less, it is the reality. So when you have cosmetic surgery to improve your looks or is reconstructive surgery, there’s a really good chance but you will also improve your economic opportunities as well as becoming more popular are and have more friends.

The benefits of plastic surgery also include better Mental Health. When one feels better about their looks, they have less depression and take less medication for mental issues.

Benefits plastic and reconstructive surgery are numerous and proven.