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  • Future Positive x Ello: Lydia Caldana

    Future Positive x Ello: Lydia Caldana

    Ello is one of our favourite social platforms and a great place to to find and share inspiration with thousands of creatives across the globe. The guys at Ello are now interviewing some of the most interesting users on their platform and have chosen us to publish one of those first interviews with noted futurist Lydia Caldana.

    Lydia Caldana is a trend forecaster and researcher that continually inspires the Ello community by exposing mind-blowing innovations. She earned a BA of Arts, Trend Prediction & Forecasting in London, has studied fashion design in Italy, and spent the first 17 years of her life in Brazil. Lydia finds undeniably incredible innovations and her forward-thinking reveals just how amazing the future could be.

    Interview by Anna Quinlan from Ello and image by Lydia Caldana.

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    Is there a recent trend or innovation that you’re particularly excited about?

    There is a phenomenon being study by Box1824 regarding how the old market segmentation logic when it comes to consumer research that I find interesting and possibly applicable in other areas. When a client usually asks for consumer research, they have their own idea of who their target is, say, middle class, male, 35-65 years old. What Box realized after years of direct contact with consumers is that dividing them by gender, age and income level does not make sense anymore. Someone’s age/gender/social class alone does not determine what you buy, what you watch, how you watch it, who influences you, who you influence, how you interact with friends, and so forth. Most of the times I tell people this, they say “I feel like you’re talking about me! I am 52 and female and I love watching cartoons. I am a living example of how that is true”, for example. I am excited to see how this delightful change that started by consumers and regular people will tell the industry how to think their market segmentations, products and services. It’s time companies started caring about and deeply understanding their people.

    Box1824’s online platform is www.pontoeletronico.me, which will soon be 100% available in English. Check it out for awesome trends in behavior and bits of how the reality in Brazil is changing.

    You turn up a lot of stories that I’ve never even heard of! Where do you look for innovation news, or how to you keep your pulse on the latest?

    I have my secret weapons, haha. Basically, I live for new stuff – products, services, mindsets… If I didn’t have a few other things to do during my day, I’d easily spend it searching for this. It is very natural to me and once I’m into a subject, I won’t stop until I get to its roots. It’s like every piece of information you find leads you to another, and the more you follow the leads, the better you can see the whole-picture. Mostly, I read websites that I do not know the language, like Ukrainian and Chinese. I click on all the links and words I can understand and dig for further info on any of the (six) languages I do speak.

    What does the future look like to you?

    That’s obviously hard to tell and anything I say here could go completely the other way. But what I hope for is a future in which transportation, food & healthcare and leisure are integrated with both professional and personal lives. We already know that those lines are blurred, but I think they mostly make our lives harder right now rather than just acting organically into it. If education or work were integrated in transportation, per say, how much time would we have spare at the end of the day, how many more bits of things would we learn on a daily basis and how much more fun could this experience be? I am a huge foodie, don’t get me wrong, but I also believe that the ritual of having a meal should be something appreciated when we have the time and will. If you’re on the run on a Tuesday night, wouldn’t it be healthier to just take your personalized food pill than eating some ready-made crap you heated in the microwave and quickly ate 2 spoonfulls just so you wouldn’t faint and be on to the next thing?

    You seem to have a defined, distinct point of view. Do you remember any specific events that have significantly impacted your way of thinking?

    Yes, I do. I think there were probably a few things throughout my life that molded my point of view. First of all, I am an anxious, paranoid person, okay? So I’ve always had to know what was coming next before it happened, so I could  be prepared for it and try to think of ways of how to deal with it. I think that’s where my ‘forecasting’ need came from. Secondly, when I mistakenly thought I was going to be a fashion designer and went to fashion school. Being immersed on that industry made me realize a paradox: you either have to be extremely creative, borderline crazy and lucky as hell in order to succeed or you will be another regular designer that does what they’re told on a low-average income for the rest of your life. The odds of you becoming the first one are,as we all know, one in a million. So, at the same time that you are required to be the most innovative designer ever, you are faced with the fact that tangible success for you means barely using your brains and heart while designing, just so you can say you are employed. This frustrates me and, around the same time, I found out the lovely path of trend forecasting, that opened up my world to industries I never thought of working with before. Last but not least, it was when I realized that the tool and key to everything is technology. Creativity lives inside every one of us; the only thing we lack is access to means that will allow us to make it happen. Now, more than ever, technology is what makes it possible. I started reading about great people including Allan Turing, Ray Kurzweil and Miguel Nicolelis, researching about women in the industry, how Generation I have already incorporated machinelike way-of-thinking, and have been finding out great stuff since then. It is an endless source of fun and scary surprises and changes that I’ll be looking into for a while, I believe.

    You run @ellofuture on Ello. What do you value in Ello?

    Since I’m always interested in new things, I had to try Ello. The fact that you had to be invited first definitely attracted my attention, so I hacked my way into it. I loved how free it felt to post there, without the commitment of doing it for other people or keeping a certain consistency among posts. It was also extremely easy to interact with people who turned out to be geniuses in tech, design, photography, etc. You’d start a conversation and weeks later you’d find out that they are gods in their industries. I felt really welcomed by the community and also comfortable enough to start something I had always wanted to: a space to exchange information and views on the future. Future of anything – it doesn’t matter what, I just want to know what people think and expect, what they are looking into, what scares them. Ello kindly allowed this and promoted the blog, which generated loads of insightful conversations and I am forever thankful for that.

  • Factors Besides Forbrukslan Test Lenders Use To Assign Loan Amounts

    Whether you’re the lender or the borrower for a consumer loan, the priority for each is that the repayments are manageable, and the loan balance will be re-paid in full.

    Depending on the type of loan, the suggestion is that borrowers can incorporate a test as part of being proactive to determine their borrowing capacity. Consumers must become aware of the factors that impact their ability to borrow and how loan providers arrive at a client’s loan amount.

    Once you have an idea of how much you can spend, whether for a first home or a milestone occasion like a wedding, it will be much easier to budget that expense to comfortably fit with standard monthly expenditures. It’s essential for you as the client to ensure your comfortability.

    Sometimes a lending agency can decide that you qualify for more than you anticipate or request. That doesn’t mean that you need to borrow that amount, nor that you should. Consider this a gauge while you stick with what’s affordable and manageable for your lifestyle and financial circumstances.

    Image via Pixabay

    What Factors Do Lenders Use To Determine Loan Amounts

    When taking a consumer loan for any purpose, a priority is to establish a loan amount. It’s suggested borrowers can engage in loan tests that will reveal their borrowing capacity. Go to https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/financial-well-being/ to learn about your own financial well-being.

    In that same vein, lenders will determine an adequate loan amount based on different variables.

    These figures could differ with occasions when the loan provider might approve you for a more significant amount than what you need or request. That isn’t an indication that you have to accept that offer. Financial counselors and experts advise consumers only to borrow what they need and can comfortably afford to repay.

    In remaining proactive with your loan process, aside from testing, it’s wise to learn your borrowing capacity and educate on the factors each lender you consult uses to determine their loan amounts. All lenders differ in their qualifying process, but most will use relatively common standards for assigning a borrowing limit.

    • A credit score is a primary factor when assessing a borrower’s credibility

    Critical criteria go into assessing a credit score, including repayment history, credit utilization, and debt-to-income ratio. This is one of the prime factors in determining how much a borrower can afford to repay.

    The debt-to-income ratio can often outrank the credit score regarding its importance to a lender. You might have a good score, but the money paid out for debt might be substantial compared to the income you bring into the household.

    The presumption is that adding another loan to that already heavy loan would be incredibly risky, with a high chance of an inability to repay one or more debts, possibly the new loan, resulting in default.

    Regardless of a steady history of consistent repayments and a good score, this would likely result in a loan rejection. This ratio should be below 30 percent, with a preference for most lenders to be in the single digits.

    That, along with a good credit score and minimal credit utilization, would result in approval and a higher loan amount. Click this link for details on the “five C’s” of credit.

    • The credit profile should be void of negative marks

    A credit history is assessed before a person is approved for a loan; these are connected to the credit score. The loan provider is researching for proof of financial responsibility. Any defaults, judgments, or negative marks will alert the loan provider that this borrower presents a high risk.

    Some red flags lenders look for aside from inconsistent repayments include attempts at borrowing, resulting in numerous hard pulls on the history. Each time there’s a formal loan or line of credit application, this appears as an inquiry on your credit profile.

    When there are multiples of these within a short span, lenders deem a client as a high risk.

    • Employment and income for a lender are closely tied

    A steady employment history speaks to a lender of a borrower’s dependability and stability. If there are gaps, unless there are extenuating circumstances, otherwise unexplained, or considerable job changes over a brief period, the lender will feel more secure in providing a lesser loan amount.

    Usually, the time frame assessed for employment history is roughly three years. Suppose a loan provider assesses an applicant having the same employer for the entire span with incremental raises. In that case, this individual will receive the higher borrowing limit because they deem it a lower risk.

    One thing to note, a current promotion or increase is not something the lender will consider. What the provider wants to see is consistency. Perhaps you earned $25,000 annually for a period of ten years and were recently promoted to a high-ranking position where you’ll receive $75,000 each year.

    The lending agency will be impressed by the ten-year consistent history of the $25,000 and base their loan amount on that rather than the new details.

    • The down payment plays in your favor

    Regardless of the consumer loan type, whether for an auto or a house, the loan provider will look favorably toward the borrower with a sizable down payment. As is typical for a home loan, the standard is for an applicant to save a 20 percent down payment.

    When you can do this or even perhaps a higher amount, you gain a greater chance for loan approval with the potential for a substantially lower interest rate. It would be best if you strived for this because it will maximize your funds and potentially reduce monthly installments.

    That’s true of most loan products. Borrowers are encouraged to put as much down on the loan as possible, making them less of a loan risk, improving the possibility for approval, and keeping the interest rate at its lowest.

    It’s a heavy investment upfront and tough for many individuals to accomplish, but it’s worth the effort to save in whatever way you’re able, whether taking a side gig or perhaps you can have it gifted to you.

    • Secure the loan

    Some borrowers are at high risk, whether showing a poor employment history, less than favorable credit, or below-average income, preventing them from being eligible for unsecured standard products. That doesn’t mean there aren’t options. Some loan providers allow borrowers to secure their loans to get approval.

    With collateral, a client can secure their loan funds with a valuable asset relatively equal to the loan amount diminishing the lender’s risk. The lending agency can seize the property if repayments stop in order to recover their loss. This makes the loan provider more willing to grant approval and provide a healthy loan amount.

    One thing to be cautious of if you’re in the position of having low income and a poor credit and employment history is that you can afford the borrowing limit you’re given comfortably without the likelihood of defaulting and losing your asset. This could be a home, an auto, or even your savings.

    Final Thought

    Whether borrowing or lending, the objective, in either case, is to determine a loan amount that will be repaid without a struggle for the individual or causing a risk for the lender.

    As a borrower, consumer loan tests are available to determine your borrowing capacity. Still, aside from the testing, you should become familiar with how the loan providers come to their loan amount determinations.

    The more you participate in your loan process, the better chance you have of not only being approved but of getting the amount you need for the type of loan you request.

    These products can include home mortgages, consolidation loans, auto products, or any lending option; different consumer loans will have their own criteria and expectations.

    A note of caution when you do appear favorable with every factor assessed and receive a positive response from your loan provider, pay attention to the loan amount you’re approved for and recognize that you’re not committed to taking it to the limit.

    Some lenders will offer you a more significant amount than what you request or need.

    It’s within your control to decline the excess, stick within your borrowing capacity where you’re comfortable, and can manage the expense with your other monthly obligations. That will lead to a re-paid balance, no potential for struggling, and no default.

  • Lodestars Anthology Italy

    Lodestars Anthology Italy

    It’s not the first time we talk about Lodestars Anthology on our blog. This travel magazine, focusing on a different country in each new issue, has evolved nicely since its beginnings in 2014 and has become one of our favourite publications.

    After documenting England, Scotland and Australia, the fourth issue of Lodestars Anthology is dedicated to the beauty of Italy. Filled with exquisite photographs, as usual, the Italy issue takes you on a trip around some of the most breath-taking corners of this sun-drenched country. Explore the Parma countryside, go on a hike around the rocky backdrop of the Dolomites, relax on the Almafi Coast, discover the flavours of Tuscany or find the real meaning of “al fresco”…these are just some of the numerous topics covered over 150 beautifully designed pages.

    You can buy Lodestars Anthology and find more information about the magazine on its website:

    www.lodestarsanthology.co.uk

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  • ​​The Importance of Audio Quality and How Audio Interfaces Can Affect It

    Quality is the name of the game in the recording world. If you are wondering why audio interfaces are a necessity when building a home studio, here are some reasons why.

    Audio quality

    Do you notice those crisp and clear vocals or punchy drums when you listen to music? Those are the results of a good-quality audio recording (with some post-production of course). 

    Even with all the mixing and mastering that goes down, the initial take should always be of good quality.

    But you might be asking, what counts as a good-quality audio recording?

    What affects audio quality?

    A good quality audio recording is a take that is crisp, clear, and audible.

    So how do you get these kinds of characteristics? For starters, a microphone.

    The two biggest enemies when it comes to getting this kind of audio are sound degradation and noise.

    Noise

    Let’s start with the noise. 

    If you are curious why room treatment and good gear are always brought up when recording vocals, this is the reason.

    There will be cases where unnecessary noise, such as background noise and plosives, will appear.

    Whether it is the cars outside or your pets making a ruckus, these sounds can be picked up.

    You might be tempted to just buy a cheaper microphone that’s not as sensitive to noise, though you’ll be missing out on some frequencies that might make your takes sound better.

    Plosives are the noises you make when pronouncing the letters b and p.

    These can be mitigated not by the microphone but by the room itself. Though it may be unrelated, it is still best to know this so you won’t be swayed to lose out on quality.

    Lastly, consider the blumlein mic technique, which captures a natural stereo image while helping reduce unwanted noise. Combining the right mic technique with room treatment ensures a clearer, more professional sound.

    Sound Degradation

    When it comes to recording any audio, having all the frequencies present is a benefit.

    Sometimes, the microphone you use may be lacking in some frequencies, or the speakers you use can’t pick up lower ends.

    This is also bad if you are mixing your own songs. Having degraded audio takes might influence your mixes and cause you to make some mistakes or miss out on some details you couldn’t hear due to bad audio quality.

    From the looks of it, having good audio quality sounds tricky. Can I really achieve this without a completely rigged out recording studio? How can I get the best audio in my room?

    The answer is a big yes. No longer do you need to spend tons of money with expensive gear, nor do you need to take long drives to a recording studio.

    You can now create music with high-quality audio in the comfort of your own home. At the same time, busting the bank is no longer necessary. The reason for this is thanks to the audio interface.

    Audio Interfaces

    Audio interfaces are sound cards that can help produce clear and accurate sounds.  Even if they come in different shapes and sizes, they all still deliver the same level of quality.

    What makes these sound cards valuable for many musicians and producers? Well for one, they are what allow you to connect your microphone to the laptop.

    That in itself makes them important for a home recording set-up.

    Aside from that, they also deliver great quality compared to your computer’s sound card.

    Computer sound cards are limited when it comes to music, so they won’t be able to read audio signals that well. When you add in an audio interface, you are letting them be the ones to read. This makes it much easier for your laptop when it comes to processing the information.

    You’re doing your computer a huge favor in terms of CPU and energy. With the audio interface around, you’re sharing the work so that the recording session can run smoothly and get that high-quality sounding takes.

    Latency

    Another thing that audio interfaces help with is reducing latency.

    Latency is the delay that occurs with the conversion of audio signals to digital information. The delay is pretty small and measured in milliseconds.While instant recognition isn’t guaranteed even with the most high-quality interfaces, it helps keep it to a minimum.

    Trust me. These milliseconds can make a big difference in the results of a recording.

    Playback delay is one of the worst things that can happen when recording. This can influence the way you perform while it is being recorded. Even something as small as one second can throw you off and affect the track.

    Audio interfaces are able to reduce latency since they’re built to convert audio signals into digital data much more efficiently compared to a computer’s sound card.

    Even the simplest audio interface model will reduce the latency greatly.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can regular sound cards produce the same quality?

    While you will be able to get the job done by just buying a separate sound card, you will be missing out on quality.

    Audio interfaces were built for the purpose of audio recording. You can’t always tell if the quality of a sound card will be good or consistent.

    With interfaces, even the most affordable ones will be of good quality. You don’t need to buy the fanciest-looking one if you are making a home studio.

    Can regular sound cards produce the same quality?

    Another way to reduce latency is by minimizing the amount of programs you have on your computer. Ideally, you should only have your digital audio workstation (DAW) on while working on your music.

    You can also make adjustments to the buffer size in your interface and DAW. Typically the lower, the better, but not too low.

    Can audio interfaces record at higher sample rates?

    Audio interfaces are able to record at higher sample rates. 

    A higher sample rate typically equates to better sound quality. So having an interface around allows you to record at higher sample rates.

    Just keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily apply to all audio interfaces. I suggest looking into which audio interface allows for recording at higher sample rates with ease.

    Conclusion

    With the rise of home recording, getting the best quality out of your recordings is now achievable. 

    Although it takes some considerations and adjustments, it is possible thanks to music equipment like the audio interface.

    Worry no more about poor audio quality.

  • Coaching Client Management Software

    Coaching Client Management Software is designed to help coaches streamline their client management processes. This software is ideal for any coach managing multiple clients, as it simplifies the process of scheduling, tracking progress, and keeping client information organized.A good example of such software is https://workee.net/perfect-for/coaches. This software also allows coaches to easily communicate with clients and send progress reports, ensuring clients stay informed and motivated. With this software, coaches can spend more time on their coaching focus and less time on their administrative tasks. There are a number of options for coaching client management software, and it’s important to find one that works best for your unique needs. Here are some of the best options on the market to get you started.

    Book Like A Boss

    Book Like A Boss is the perfect software for coaches, consultants and life coaches who want to take bookings online. It is the best way to automate your scheduling process and sell your services using customizable and branded booking pages that will increase your sales and profits.

    BLAB is not only the best scheduling tool, but it also enables you to build your very own website where you can tout yourself and outline your services. You can even accept payments from your site in a few clicks.

    The software is very easy to use and is designed to load quickly on smartphones so your customers can make their bookings in no time at all. In addition, it has a fantastic customer service model where you can schedule 1 on 1 web calls to answer any questions or concerns your clients may have.

    Fons

    Fons is a great coaching client management software that frees up your time by automating tasks like bookkeeping, sending invoices, rescheduling, and payment follow-up in a few clicks. It also helps you build a client profile that includes contact details, billing rates, and transaction histories.

    With Fons, you can create personalized schedules for each client based on availability and their preferences. All client data is stored and organized in a simple profile for easy access.

    You can create recurring appointments for daily, weekly, or monthly sessions. Fons also automatically enforces your cancellation policy and collects payments for you.

    The scheduling software also has a smart CRM that announces your availability, limits last minute bookings, and keeps you from having to worry about missing important client meetings. It even lets you convert timezones to help you and your clients stay on the same page.

    Delenta’s self-booking solution handles all the complexities of scheduling, allowing you to focus on improving your clients’ lives. The client-friendly CMS also offers a live analytics dashboard to help you track your coaching statistics. It also helps you personalize content delivery through individual client user interfaces (UIs).

    HoneyBook

    HoneyBook is an online client management software that helps users track projects, book clients, send invoices and handle payments. It also features task management that lets users view and track different stages of a project.

    This platform is a great choice for freelancers and small businesses that need to manage multiple projects at a time. It’s especially useful for creative entrepreneurs like graphic designers, business coaches, florists, consultants and photographers.

    One of HoneyBook’s main features is its email automation tool. It can automatically send emails with attached documents based on triggers such as when people sign up on your website for news or a freebie.

    This is a great way to save time and ensure that your clients are always on the same page! It also helps to keep your client’s details secure. Plus, it gives you a place to send all of your files to clients so they can easily access them on their own!

    Satori

    Streamline your coaching business with Satori, our simple and streamlined client management software built with love for coaches. Balance your schedule, design packages, onboard clients, process payments, send questionnaires and sign agreements all on one easy platform.

    Satori is used by thousands of coaches to automate admin, deliver stellar client experiences and grow their coaching practice with confidence. It’s simple to get started, and you can take a trial free of charge!

    User Access Rules are a way to govern data access for individual users or groups within Satori. They can be defined for a predefined time range, with permissions automatically revoked when they’re no longer needed.

    Satori also offers secure data sharing with the new Satori Data Portal and Satori for Slack. These solutions move away from manual ticket-based workflows and outdated spreadsheets to a fully automated, secure data access workflow with policy based approvals – all without requiring engineering resources.