#the solution is not to do away with these services it is to better compensate the workers

[bananonbinary]

i feel like it's worth remembering that the most vulnerable people aren't just being "inconvenienced" by strikes. the only reason strikes work is because they grind an industry to a halt, and that genuinely can result in very dangerous situations for some people. the bystanders probably arent a huge issue with like the writers strike, but without say, UPS, a lot of people will not get medicine, food, and other essentials in time. and of course the workers themselves are sacrificing potentially everything to hold the line.

TO BE CLEAR, this is not the fault of the striking workers. the corporations could end this at any moment by choosing to be slightly less evil, and workers should not have to choose between endangering themselves constantly or endangering random strangers sometimes. but i feel like i see a lot of very flippant posts coming from a place of privilege where they're like "lol yeah i would love to be slightly inconvenienced all the time so people can be paid more, dont be a baby" as if strikes are a simple and easy solution, and not something people very bravely do, if not as a last resort, at least after exhausting the less dangerous options. fighting for our rights is not painless.

[richardcrepeau]

Need a Car Accident Lawyer Near You? Here’s What to Look For

Accidents happen. One moment, you're driving peacefully, and the next, chaos erupts. You’re left with medical bills, insurance paperwork, and endless stress. A car accident lawyer helps you cut through the noise. Their role? Ensure you get fair compensation while handling the legal headaches. Statistics show that over 6 million car accidents occur annually in the United States. Without proper representation, victims often settle for far less than they deserve.

Experience and Specialization

Lawyers are not one-size-fits-all. Some focus on family law, others on corporate litigation. You need someone who specializes in car accidents. Their knowledge of traffic laws, insurance policies, and injury claims sets them apart. Experience matters. Would you trust a surgeon fresh out of medical school? Exactly. Look for a lawyer with at least five years of experience handling car accident cases. Specialized attorneys win higher settlements because they know how to navigate the system.

Track Record of Success

Results speak louder than words. A lawyer may sound convincing, but their record tells the real story. Ask about past settlements and verdicts. Have they handled cases similar to yours? Success rates above 90% are a good indicator of competence. Beware of lawyers who dodge these questions. If they can’t prove success, why should you trust them? Remember, your future is on the line.

Local Expertise

Location matters. Local lawyers know state laws and court systems better than outsiders. For example, fault and liability rules vary by state. A lawyer familiar with your area understands how judges and insurers operate locally. They’ll leverage this knowledge to your advantage. Google “car accident lawyer in Brooklyn” for tailored options. Hiring someone miles away is like using a map of Europe to drive in New York—useless.

For car accident lawyers directory check out: https://www.justfyi.net/car-accident-lawyers/

Communication and Availability

You need answers, not voicemails. Effective communication is crucial. A good lawyer responds promptly, keeps you updated, and simplifies legal jargon. Ask about their availability upfront. Will you deal directly with the lawyer or their assistant? If they can’t prioritize your case, move on. You don’t need a lawyer who’s harder to reach than a customer service agent.

Client Reviews and Testimonials

People love sharing opinions, especially when they’re dissatisfied. Check online reviews and testimonials to gauge client satisfaction. Look for patterns—do clients mention professionalism, results, or lack thereof? Trustpilot, Google Reviews, and Avvo are reliable sources. A few bad reviews are normal, but excessive complaints about communication or competence are red flags. You’re hiring someone to fight for you—make sure they have the battle scars to prove it.

Fees and Payment Structure

Money is always a factor. Most car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. This means they only get paid if you win. Typically, they take 25-40% of the settlement. It’s a fair trade-off. Avoid lawyers who demand upfront fees. If they’re confident in winning, they’ll wait for their cut. Always clarify the percentage and any hidden costs before signing.

Trial Experience

Settlements are common, but some cases end up in court. Your lawyer must be prepared to fight. Trial experience matters. Insurance companies know which lawyers avoid court and use it to their advantage. A strong litigator sends a message—you’re ready to go the distance. Ask your lawyer about their trial history. If they fumble this question, consider it a red flag.

Personalized Attention

No two car accidents are alike. Cookie-cutter solutions don’t work. Your lawyer should treat your case with care, understanding your specific needs. If they’re juggling hundreds of cases, your file might gather dust. During the consultation, assess whether they listen or rush you through. Lawyers who value you will make time for your concerns.

Understanding Insurance Tactics

Insurance companies aren’t your friends. Their job? Minimize payouts. Adjusters often offer quick settlements that barely cover your expenses. Lawyers who know their tricks can counter them effectively. For instance, insurers might argue your injuries are pre-existing or downplay your pain. A seasoned lawyer challenges these claims with evidence, medical records, and expert testimony. You deserve compensation, not charity.

Clear Strategy and Approach

Winning a case requires a plan. Your lawyer should outline their strategy during the initial consultation. Ask them how they’ll handle evidence, witnesses, and negotiations. If they mumble vague answers, reconsider your choice. A solid lawyer will explain their approach clearly and confidently. You’re not psychic—you shouldn’t have to guess their plan.

Medical Connections and Expert Resources

Serious injuries require expert testimony. Lawyers with medical connections strengthen your case. They collaborate with doctors, accident reconstruction specialists, and economists. Why does this matter? Expert reports help prove liability, damages, and future expenses. For instance, if you’re unable to work, an economist can calculate lost wages. A lawyer without resources is like a builder without tools—useless.

Compassion and Empathy

Legal battles are exhausting. You’re not just another case file; you’re a person dealing with trauma. Compassionate lawyers offer support while fighting aggressively for your rights. They balance professionalism with humanity. Cold, robotic attorneys may win cases, but they leave clients feeling ignored. Empathy matters, especially when you’re already overwhelmed.

Red Flags to Avoid

Not all lawyers are trustworthy. Watch out for these red flags:

Guaranteed outcomes: No lawyer can promise a win.

Pushy behavior: If they pressure you to sign, walk away.

Poor reviews: Patterns of complaints signal deeper issues.

Lack of transparency: Hidden fees or unclear strategies are unacceptable.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is.

Questions to Ask During the Consultation

The consultation is your chance to evaluate the lawyer. Here are key questions to ask:

How many car accident cases have you handled?

What’s your success rate?

How often do you go to trial?

How will you communicate with me?

What’s your fee structure?

Who will handle my case?

Their answers reveal their competence and approach. Take notes, compare responses, and make an informed decision.

Benefits of Hiring the Right Lawyer

The right lawyer makes all the difference. They increase your chances of a higher settlement, reduce stress, and handle paperwork efficiently. Studies show that accident victims with lawyers receive up to three times more compensation than those without. It’s a no-brainer. Hiring an expert ensures you’re not short-changed.

Final Thoughts

Car accidents are life-changing events. You need someone in your corner who knows the law, understands your needs, and fights relentlessly for you. Choosing the right car accident lawyer requires research, but the effort pays off. Focus on experience, communication, and results. Trust reviews, ask questions, and listen to your instincts. The right lawyer will make your recovery smoother—both financially and emotionally.

Now, stop procrastinating and start searching. Your future depends on it.

[trackolap]

How can Sales Automation Software help businesses to manage sales operations?

As the changing demands of customers and market trends, field employees are always on their toes to seamlessly close deals and meet customers' expectations. However, tracking each field employee away from the workplace may feel like a difficult task. You can fix this issue with one simple solution - by optimizing your sales strategy along with tracking employees’ activities and progress through field sales management software.

Let’s assume, you have sales automation software that is catered to optimize your sales reps and track your field employees to gain insights on the progress of sales activities, find gaps in your strategy, and identify potential opportunities to improve sales performance. Sounds too good to be true right? TrackOlap offers innovative software to eliminate the hassles of field managers and employees and aids in optimizing workflow catered to meet business and marketing goals. 

Do you want to learn more about how field sales management software can help in optimizing your sales reps? We’ve got you covered! In this blog, we will discuss optimizing the sales process hassle-free and navigate you through top strategies to help you close more deals effectively. 

How can Sales Automation Software help businesses to manage sales operations?

Are you looking to improve your sales reps? But aren’t sure how? Don’t worry, we have got your answers. TrackOlap’s field force management software can help you keep track of your team and identify various factors through insightful data. For your better understanding, we have listed below a few factors that you should include in your sales roadmap. 

Evaluate sales performance seamlessly

With access to previous data on the field employees performance and completed sales reps through field force management tool , managers can evaluate sales reps at their fingertips. By utilizing this data-driven report, you can analyze the effectiveness of your previous strategies and identify the gap between missed deals and the target. 

Optimize your sales reps

Managing sales operations and meeting target audiences is one of the major challenges that most field managers face today. Guess what, you can easily fix this issue with field sales management software. 

Through features like Geofencing, managers can bifurcate allocating resources majorly to the frequently utilized routes. And, on the other hand, assign targets to the most skilled employees with potential sales reps routes to balance sales operations with standard strategy and meanwhile target more opportunities. 

This strategy can help you close more deals with high-potential routes, and satisfy the expectations of current customers especially if your business deals with cab services. But how can you adopt this approach? By utilizing reports of the Geofencing feature and identifying potential routes to obtain better outcomes. 

Ideal planning for the sales operation

To make your sales operation successful, managers need to have hands-on information on varied factors like identifying potential opportunities, finding out the reason behind missed deals, conducting market research, data of average fuel usage, strengths and weaknesses of every employee, customer demands, and lastly to align sales operation with marketing campaigns you need to evaluate sales performance regularly. 

To make sure you lead to the path of ideal planning you must have access to insights on sales reps. TrackOlap’s sales automation software offers varied features like live tracking that helps managers track the activities of field employees in real-time, an easy attendance process to maintain a record of the team’s availability and compensation, and Geofencing to optimize ideal routes beforehand to simplify workflow. 

And, other features like stoppage details and total distance traveled help managers understand the work efficiency delivered by each employee and identify any challenges that they might face at any given time. Lastly, managers can plan sales operations seamlessly with customized data-driven reports by utilizing lead management solutions. 

Top 5 strategies to close more deals using field sales management software

Get rid of constantly following up the updates from your employees, and juggling through the sales activities, and boost your sales reps, close more deals effectively. Align your sales operation strategies with field sales management software. Refer to the strategies listed below to maximize your bottom line seamlessly. 

1. Optimize overall sales performance

By monitoring and evaluating the previous sales performance data, as a manager, you can rely on this data to prepare a roadmap for strategizing sales reps in the coming months. How? By identifying performance gaps, prioritizing to set realistic and achievable goals for your team through field force management, furthermore rewarding high performers, and motivating the team to achieve targets seamlessly. 

Additionally, by integrating data from CRM with sales performance reports through lead management solutions , you can identify the average time spent on each sales rep and the particular activity or strategy that impacted the increase in total revenue and closing deals. 

2. Optimize routes to close more deals

Yes, you heard it right! By tracking sales activities in real-time you can identify potential sales routes with more opportunities and meanwhile, look after field employees' safety through a field force management tool. 

As we mentioned above, Trackolap offers robust features like Geofencing, catered to help managers track the allocated territory for the employees, and check the effectiveness of the sales reps. But what if we told you that you can utilize this feature to find potential sales opportunities and seek to close more deals? 

To begin with, managers can track the daily record of sales reps and align sales performance data with the customer visits or services delivered regularly, and time spent for each sales rep. You can utilize the data to identify the effectiveness of a sales strategy, employee performance, or even the quality of products or services by counting repetitive sales. 

In addition, utilize all these factors to plan your next sales and marketing goals and target frequently used and new routes to attract more deals and satisfy potential customers’ expectations through lead management solutions.

3. Segment data to achieve better outcomes

Imagine putting all your sales efforts and resources just to realize you were targeting the wrong audience. We are sure, you wouldn’t want to face a scenario like this. So what is the solution? 

Use the customer behavior or customer visitor data to understand their feedback on your brand’s offerings by analyzing the total time spent by your employees on a per-visit basis or by breaking down the demographics of your profitable customers through sales reps' data. 

By using this data from field sales management software, you can save money, time and effort on targeting sales reps around customers that aren't a great fit for your offerings and business goals. Define your correct target audience, and re-align your sales and marketing goals to convert potential customers to profitable loyal customers. 

4. Prioritize the correct sales pipeline

Utilize your customer interaction or customer visit data through sales automation software to optimize the sales pipeline, and strategize sales reps around the leads that are profitable or more likely to interact with your offerings. 

This approach will help you identify bottlenecks, and weak points in your sales reps that made your leads turn away amid the sales process towards competitor’s offerings. In addition, you can prioritize your leads by preparing an ideal customer profile, to ensure closing more deals. You can consider combining marketing campaigns, and CRM data with your sales operation strategy to boost revenue. 

5. Adopt new methods to grab customer’s attention

If you are a product-based company, then your field employees' major challenges might include grabbing potential customer’s attention with traditional methods. Don’t worry, you can fix it with a one robust solution.

Firstly, as a sales manager, your focus must be on investing your time and efforts towards market research and identifying the right method for marketing that meets with your business needs.For instance, demos, sales representation, and collateral can be effective for field employees to convert prospects to customers or at least generate curiosity for your product. 

Based on the data of sales performance, conducting customer behavior analysis, and by accessing the average time spent through sales automation software you will realize customers from different demographics and behaviors have varied preferences and interests. 

For instance, a few prospects prefer short, to-the-point product demonstrations, whereas others prefer in-depth product representations. Use this data, and motivate your field employees to target customers with customized methods and close more deals effectively. 

Final Thoughts

With correct planning, and strategy at the right time, you can seamlessly convert potential leads into profitable and loyal customers. Utilize the right tools like field sales management software and align your field employees with sales and business goals to ensure your team is on the right path. 

To know more about automating sales operations to close more quality deals, check out TrackOlap’s Live Tracking Tool or get in touch with us today!

[waynelofburows]

Tips for Apartment Roof Covering Repairs

A flat roof repair maintains your overall roofing system in solid functional form. Reduced sloped roofing repair work are a terrific means to see to it that a little issue together with your roof covering won't be a big fixing or choice. Recognizing that a repair work is a viable solution and not only a patch can save you a great deal of money. These repairs are reasonable for property owner, companies, markets and organizations for instance institutions that aspire to take care of troubles rather than change their roof covering. Unfortunately, fixings are regrettably a normal occurrence in addition to a common requirement. It seems practical realistically because inside a roofing which has no pitch, water will certainly sit on it and water always wants to discover away out downhill.

Reduced angled roofs are built of a number of asphalt roll roof and/or asphalt structure paper criss-entered and "warm mopped" with hot asphalt liquid. A layer of crushed rock or crushed rock is baked into the asphalt to complete from the surface area. Level roof coverings are a frequently more economical and easier to establish option to standard angled roofs. Low sloped roofing systems have actually remained in existence for hundreds of years and likewise the old modern technology of using asphalt compounds to deflect water had actually been used till 3 decades back. Roof as a whole can have additional difficulties however with business roof items made for flat locations the issues can escalate.

These fixings might be pricey regarding the damage. You'll need and to keep some common tools, devices and roof components to accomplish "temporary" patching, repair work and apparent from particles in periods of emergency situation as an example pipe, compressor, ladder, hammer, plywood scraps, metal sheets, roofing blinking, computing tapes, caulking weapon, caulks, nails, staple weapon, container snips, spots, rubber sheets, emergency waterproof sealants, tarpaulins duct tape, and much more.

Simply in situation you're afraid concerning the expenditures active in the healing you'll be able to talk to a firm that is in charge of roof repair work and request them to have a quote. A crucial a part of possessing a residence is home roof fixing. High quality may be the response if this entails DIY level roof covering repair.

Need to you determine to hire a roofer who concentrates on level roofing system repairs, make sure to do your study before hiring the business. Request to see a duplicate of their certificate of liability insurance and employees compensation. Call the insurance agent or agents for the plans to verify the firm is correctly insured. Also, I would certainly advise requesting referrals and then calling them to examine the client service experience they got.

Flat roof covering surfaces are typically extremely convenient and easy to keep. However, a roofing system leakage for level location is rather made complex. If in all you are confronted with a situation where you have to get your level roofing system taken care of, initially find the circumstance. This implies you understand where the real trouble lies. Is it a leakage, is the material chipping off, has the beginning to fracture, https://www.vashiatvhod.com/services-item/remont-na-pokrivi/ and so on are several of the inquiries you need to attend to prior to you employ a roofing repair service expert. A dripping roofing requires prompt focus or else the circumstance can go completely out of hand. When you start work on your roofing system with your professional makes sure that you have sufficient options in hand so that your spending plan can be spaced. Next, consult your specialist if it is advisable to load the gaps or get the roofing system entirely changed. Sometimes, roofing substitute works out to be a much better repair service alternative.

Your repair service specialist will suggest you on one of the most reliable roofing system products to ensure that a repair issue can be pressed better right into the future. Obtaining fresh materials for your roofing system likewise guarantees that roofing system relevant problems are kept at bay. Locating a roof covering repair work specialist is not a really difficult task. There are a number of on-line sources that can help you via the search. Some roof covering repair specialists also have web sites that describe their services and their areas of toughness. Getting referrals from friends and family additionally helps to a fantastic extent. Roofing system repair work is an issue that several families face however the catch hinges on obtaining the services of a professional that rests.

[23digital]

Get Brand Recognition with the Most Respected Digital Agency in Melbourne

Hiring a digital agency in Melbourne that specialises in digital marketing spares the investor from having to pay the marketer's entire compensation. One must pay more in salaries while doing in-house marketing, but this can be reduced by using digital companies. Additionally, it is clear that clients receive superior services from digital companies at lower costs. Adopting digital marketing companies would be the simplest answer for the most dependable services that are motivated by innovation. 

You Will Have a Higher Google Ranking:

The experts with web design in Melbourne have the ability to develop the most effective marketing strategies. Google and other search engines seek to highlight the greatest outcomes for its users. Your website will rank better in the search results because search engine crawlers value websites created by professional web developers. Increased traffic produces more leads when combined with an effective content marketing strategy. 

The percentage of visitors to your website who leave right away after visiting is known as the bounce rate. This may occur as a result of badly done web development or design, which results in slow loading times, problems, and crashes. Employ a web designer to construct and maintain your website to keep bounce rates low.

Customised Options with Genuine Flexibility:

Boutique web design firms are typically run and controlled by a small group of seasoned experts who specialise in a particular set of talents. Instead of the one-size-fits-all strategies provided by larger agencies, these companies are equipped to provide personalised solutions that meet the specific demands of their clients. 

Boutique firms can quickly respond to developments in the digital environment and are versatile with their service offerings. Businesses can keep ahead of the competition, stay relevant in a cutthroat industry, and communicate effectively with clients when they have this level of adaptability.

Global Influence and Regional Effect with Full Access:

It eliminates regional limitations, allowing potential clients to be reached both locally and globally. It increases market penetration and creates access to fresh prospects and consumers. 

It is open 24/7, unlike a conventional store with set business hours. This increases client convenience by enabling them to learn more about goods and services, ask questions, and even make payments whenever they choose.

Source: https://webdesign23digital.blogspot.com/2023/09/get-brand-recognition-with-most.html

[constructionaccounting]

541: The Value Of Documenting Effective Construction Business Systems

This Podcast Is Episode Number 541, And It's About The Value Of Documenting Effective Construction Business Systems

Many entrepreneurs operate with their business processes and systems in their heads. They know what they must do daily and how they want to get things done.

  Unfortunately, when a construction business grows, and staff need to be hired – or the owner needs to take time away from the company – it's an absolute liability not having processes and systems documented in one place.

  To be in business and to remain in business, become a business person! To run a construction business, you must be business-like. It's not sufficient just to be very good at what you do. Many people who are 'very good at what they do' have failed. The familiar cry: "I'm far too busy for that," is also no excuse. Are you 'too busy' to be a competent businessperson? If so, your construction business won't last long. You must continue to develop your business skills.

  To be a businessperson, you must try to become an all-rounder, not just a specialist player. You can offer outstanding goods or services, but if you don't develop sound business systems, you are not a fully rounded businessperson, and your construction business will be in danger of failing.

Remember that other stakeholders in your business - such as the building material suppliers who give you credit and the bankers who extend loans and financing terms, are constantly assessing your business skills. If you consistently pay people late or can't meet the duration of your debt agreements, they will draw obvious conclusions about your business skills.

Here are the top five reasons to record your company processes and systems so your business can run more efficiently and effectively even when you're not there.

1. Improve efficiency

When you sit down to record your processes and systems, you may discover gaps where improvements could be made. You might find better ways to perform routine tasks, reducing bottlenecks and eliminating extra steps. You may decide that some tasks are too time-consuming, and you'd save time and money switching to an automated solution. Reviewing how you do things as you record systems can help create better systems, improving productivity.

2. Support staff training

When hiring new talent, a systems manual can dramatically reduce the time you spend training. Documenting your processes can also ensure that jobs are consistently performed to a high standard. Sharing your procedure guidelines can help new employees and casual staff quickly get up to speed on expectations and give them a reference to check before asking questions.

3. Sell your systems

Develop a unique turnkey system that other construction businesses can implement to save time and cut costs, and you can increase profits by selling your operating manual. Those documented processes are part of your company's intellectual property and can be licensed like your brand name.

4. Getaway

One of the perks of running your own business is setting your schedule. But without systems, it can be challenging to get away for a vacation, let alone retire. To build a company that can run without you, you need to be able to delegate the tasks and processes to someone else with confidence that they'll be performed correctly and consistently. Another excellent reason to make sure your systems are recorded and your manual is updated regularly.

5. Sell your business

When it comes time to sell your construction business, you'll get top dollar if you can provide a buyer with an operating manual. A potential buyer wants to know that the company will continue to run smoothly without you throughout the transition period and that institutional memory will be retained when there's staff turnover. The greater ease with which someone can step in and operate the business, the greater the value and the higher your compensation when you're ready to sell.

As we've seen, several excellent reasons exist to review your systems and record them, even if you're just starting. You might update it yearly, just like your business plan, to discover best practices and ensure it maintains its usefulness to you and your staff.

Too many businesses fall over because the owner has not established efficient business systems. This typically happens because the business owner is so caught up in the day-to-day running of the business that the fundamentals of good business management get forgotten. It must be often said that the owner doesn't like bookkeeping or other administrative tasks, so these get put on the back burner.

The symptoms are familiar, and their results are disastrous:

Poor or non-existent record-keeping.

Tax obligations are not met.

Invoices go out late, and debts remain uncollected.

There is one cash flow crisis after another.

Goods and services are incorrectly costed and priced.

Any of these factors can lead the business down the slippery path to failure, but all are avoidable. The whole point about using sound systems is that they free you to spend more time working ON your business, not in it.

How good business systems will help you?

Good systems will make your construction business more substantial, efficient, and manageable. They will also make your business far more attractive to future buyers because if you have developed clear operating and procedure manuals, the business will be seen as an independently viable unit and less dependent on you.

Consider, for instance, what makes franchises so successful: they are designed so that people can buy a proven system and operate it after minimal training. They can do this because the business procedures are captured in simple, clear operating manuals.

You don't have to be an expert at everything in your construction business. For example, you might hate bookkeeping. Okay—but do get someone else to do it for you; don't rely on a shoebox for your accounts! And you should at least understand the processes and the overall accounting picture, even if you don't want to do the 'drudge work' yourself.

Final thoughts

Large, profitable construction companies have known and used some form of Business Process Management (B.P.M.) for hundreds of years. We've always used M.A.P. to help our clients find the treasure hidden inside their construction business. (You can download our free toolkit here if you haven't done so).

Having poor systems is the road to stress and burnout. On the other hand, good business systems will enable you to work smarter, not harder. They free you to work on your business rather than in it. That way, you're more likely to avoid burnout, and you'll be able to take time off work because you can train others to follow your documented systems and procedures. Build a better construction business and liberate yourself from it.

About The Author:

Sharie DeHart, QPA, co-founded Business Consulting And Accounting (Fast Easy Accounting) in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations. She offers insights on managing the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com

    Check out this episode about Contractors Marketing - Accounting - Production (M.A.P.)!

[cashcarsadelaide]

Adelaide's Instant Cash for Vans: Transforming Your Unwanted Vehicle into Money

In a world where convenience and efficiency reign supreme, turning your unwanted vehicle into instant cash has gained significant traction. Whether it's a vehicle that's seen better days or simply one that no longer serves your needs, a solution has steadily gained popularity in Adelaide - Instant Cash for Vans. This innovative service saves you from the hassle of dealing with classified ads or negotiations and provides a sustainable way to dispose of your vehicle. In this article, we delve into the benefits of using Cash Cars Adelaide and how it's transforming how we say goodbye to our old cars.

The Rise of Instant Cash for Vans Services

The traditional vehicle selling process often involves a complex web of advertising, negotiations, test drives, and paperwork. However, with the emergence of Instant Cash for Vans services, this process has been streamlined into a simple and efficient transaction. Adelaide's residents have found solace in this hassle-free approach, especially those who own no longer roadworthy or desirable vehicles.

Convenience Redefined: The convenience factor that Instant Cash for Vans brings to the table is unparalleled. Rather than searching for potential buyers for weeks or months, these services offer a straightforward process. With a few clicks or a phone call, you can initiate the process, get your vehicle assessed, and receive a cash offer – all within a remarkably short period. This is a game-changer for those who lead busy lives and don't have the time to go through the conventional selling process.

Cash for Any Condition: One of the most remarkable aspects of Instant Cash for Vans services is that they buy vehicles in any condition. Whether your van is barely running, damaged in an accident, or outdated, these services will offer you a fair price. This eliminates the stress of finding a buyer interested in a vehicle requiring extensive repairs or upgrades.

Environmental Benefits: Cash Cars Adelaide services benefit the seller and contribute to a greener environment. When left to decay, unwanted vehicles can leak harmful fluids and toxins into the soil and water, posing a significant risk to ecosystems. By opting for an Instant Cash for Vans service, you ensure your vehicle is responsibly dismantled and recycled, reducing its environmental impact.

Effortless Paperwork: Selling a vehicle usually involves substantial paperwork, from transferring ownership forms to handling various legalities. However, Instant Cash for Vans services simplifies this process. They often have a team to take all necessary paperwork, ensuring a seamless ownership transition without any stress on your end.

Read Also: Turn Your Clunker Into Quick Cash

The Process in Action: Turning Your Van into Cash

The process of transforming your unwanted van into instant cash is refreshingly straightforward:

Contact the Service: Contact Cash Cars Adelaide through their website or phone. Provide basic information about your vehicle, including its make, model, year, and condition.

Receive an Offer: The service will generate a cash offer for your van based on your information. This offer is often provided within hours, if not minutes, after your initial contact.

Vehicle Assessment: If you accept the offer, the next step involves a more in-depth assessment of your vehicle's condition. A representative from the service will arrange a convenient time to inspect your van.

Get Paid: Once the assessment is complete and both parties are satisfied, you'll receive your payment in cash. This eliminates the wait associated with other forms of compensation.

Say Goodbye to Your Van: The service will then take care of the entire process, from towing away the van to handling the necessary paperwork. This leaves you with nothing to worry about besides what to do with your newfound cash.

Conclusion

Adelaide's Instant Cash for Vans services has redefined how we part ways with our unwanted vehicles. The convenience, simplicity, and environmentally responsible approach these services offer make them attractive for anyone looking to turn their van into instant cash. Cash Cars Adelaide has emerged as a transformative solution in vehicle selling, from providing competitive offers regardless of the vehicle's condition to ensure a hassle-free experience.

[dwellordream]

“…The Roman Republic spent its first two and a half centuries (or so) expanding fitfully through peninsular Italy (that is, Italy south of the Po River Valley, not including Sicily). This isn’t the place for a full discussion of the slow process of expanding Roman control (which wouldn’t be entirely completed until 272 with the surrender of Tarentum). The consensus position on the process is that it was one in which Rome exploited local rivalries to champion one side or the other making an ally of the one by intervening and the other by defeating and subjecting them…

…The simple (and perhaps now increasingly dated) way I explain this to my students is that Rome follows the Goku Model of Imperialism: I beat you, therefore we are now friends. Defeated communities in Italy (the system is different outside of Italy) are made to join Rome’s alliance network as socii (‘allies’), do not have tribute imposed on them, but must supply their soldiers to fight with Rome when Rome is at war, which is always.

It actually doesn’t matter for us how this expansion was accomplished; rather we’re interested in the sort of order the Romans set up when they did expand. The basic blueprint for how Rome interacted with the Italians may have emerged as early as 493 with the Foedus Cassianum, a peace treaty which ended a war between Rome and Latin League (an alliance of ethnically Latin cities in Latium). To simplify quite a lot, the Roman ‘deal’ with the communities of Italy which one by one came under Roman power went as follows:

All subject communities in Italy became socii (‘allies’). This was true if Rome actually intervened to help you as your ally, or if Rome intervened against you and conquered your community.

The socii retained substantial internal autonomy (they kept their own laws, religions, language and customs), but could have no foreign policy except their alliance with Rome.

Whenever Rome went to war, the socii were required to send soldiers to assist Rome’s armies; the number of socii in Rome’s armies ranged from around half to perhaps as much as two thirds at some points (though the socii outnumbered the Romans in Italy about 3-to-1 in 225, so the Romans made more strenuous manpower demands on themselves than their allies).

Rome didn’t impose tribute on the socii, though the socii bore the cost of raising and paying their detachments of troops in war (except for food, which the Romans paid for, Plb. 6.39.14).

Rome goes to war every year.

No, seriously. Every. Year. From 509 to 31BC, the only exception was 241-235. That’s it. Six years of peace in 478 years of republic. The socii do not seem to have minded very much; they seem to have generally been as bellicose as the Romans and anyway…

The spoils of Roman victory were split between Rome and the socii. Consequently, as one scholar memorably put it, the Roman alliance was akin to, “a criminal operation which compensates its victims by enrolling them in the gang and inviting them to share to proceeds of future robberies” (T. Cornell, The Beginnings of Rome (1995)). The alliance system included a ladder of potential relationships with Rome which the Romans might offer to loyal allies.

Now this isn’t a place for a long discussion of the Roman alliance system in Italy (that place is in the book I am writing), so I want us to focus more narrowly on the bolded points here and how they add up to significant changes in who counted as ‘Roman’ over time. But I should note here that while I am calling this a Roman ‘alliance system’ (because the Romans call these fellows socii, allies) this was by no means an equal arrangement: Rome declared the wars, commanded the armies and set the quotas for military service. The ‘allies’ were thus allies in name only, but in practice subjects; nevertheless the Roman insistence on calling them allies and retaining the polite fiction that they were junior partners rather than subject communities, by doing things like sharing the loot and glory of victory, was a major contributor to Roman success (as we’ll see).

First, the Roman alliance system was split into what were essentially tiers of status. At the top were Roman citizens optimo iure (‘full rights,’ literally ‘with the best right’) often referred to on a community basis as civitas cum suffragio (‘citizenship with the vote’). These were folks with the full benefits of Roman citizenship and the innermost core of the Roman polity, who could vote and (in theory, though for people of modest means, only in theory) run for office.

Next were citizens non optimo iure, often referred to as having civitas sine suffragio (citizenship without the vote); they had all of the rights of Roman citizens except for political participation in Rome. This was almost always because they lived in communities well outside the city of Rome with their own local government (where they could vote); we’ll talk about how you get those communities in a second. That said, citizens without the vote still had the right to hold property in Roman territory and conduct business with the full protection of a Roman citizen (ius commercii) and the right to contract legal marriages with Roman citizens (ius conubii discussed above). They could do everything except for vote or run for offices in Rome itself.

Next down on the list were socii (allies) of Latin status (note this is a legal status and is entirely disconnected from Latin ethnicity; by the end of this post, Rome is going to be block-granting Latin status to Gauls in Cisalpine Gaul, for instance). Allies of Latin status got the benefits of the ius commercii, as well as the ability to move from one community with Latin status to another without losing their status. Unlike the citizens without the vote, they didn’t automatically get the right to contract legal marriages with Roman citizens, but in some cases the Romans granted that right to either individuals or entire communities (scholars differ on exactly how frequently those with Latin status would have conubium with Roman citizens; the traditional view is that this was a standard perk of Latin status, but see Roselaar, op. cit.). That said, the advantages of this status were considerable – particularly the ability to conduct business under Roman law rather than what the Romans called the ‘ius gentium‘ (‘law of peoples’) which governed relations with foreigners (peregrini in Roman legal terms) and were less favorable (although free foreigners in Rome had somewhat better protections, on the whole, than free foreigners – like metics – in a Greek polis).

Finally, you had the socii who lacked these bells and whistles. That said, because their communities were allies of Rome in Italy (this system is not exported overseas), they were immune to tribute, Roman magistrates couldn’t make war on them and Roman armies would protect them in war – so they were still better off than a community that was purely of peregrini (or a community within one of Rome’s provinces; Italy was not a province, to be clear).

The key to this system is that socii who stayed loyal to Rome and dutifully supplied troops could be ‘upgraded’ for their service, though in at least some cases, we know that socii opted not to accept Roman citizenship but instead chose to keep their status as their own community (the famous example of this were the allied soldiers of Praenesti, who refused Roman citizenship in 211, Liv. 23.20.2). Consequently, whole communities might inch closer to becoming Romans as a consequence of long service as Rome’s ‘allies’ (most of whom, we must stress, were at one point or another, Rome’s Italian enemies who had been defeated and incorporated into Rome’s Italian alliance system).

But I mentioned spoils and everyone loves loot. When Rome beat you, in the moment after you lost, but before the Goku Model of Imperialism kicked in and you became friends, the Romans took your stuff. This might mean they very literally sacked your town and carried off objects of value, but it also – and for us more importantly – meant that the Romans seized land. That land would be added to the ager Romanus (the body of land in Italy held by Rome directly rather than belonging to one of Rome’s allies). But of course that land might be very far away from Rome which posed a problem – Rome was, after all, effectively a city-state; the whole point of having the socii-system is that Rome lacked both the means and the desire to directly govern far away communities. But the Romans didn’t want this land to stay vacant – they need the land to be full of farmers liable for conscription into Rome’s armies (there was a minimum property requirement for military service because you needed to be able to buy your own weapons so they had to be freeholding farmers, not enslaved workers). By the by, you can actually understand most of Rome’s decisions inside Italy if you just assume that the main objective of Roman aristocrats is to get bigger armies so they can win bigger battles and so burnish their political credentials back in Rome – that, and not general altruism (of which the Romans had fairly little), was the reason for Rome’s relatively generous alliance system.

The solution was for Rome to essentially plant little Mini-Me versions of itself on that newly taken land. This had some major advantages: first, it put farmers on that land who would be liable for conscription (typically placing them in carefully measured farming plots through a process known as centuriation), either as socii or as Roman citizens (typically without the vote). Second, it planted a loyal community in recently conquered territory which could act as a position of Roman control; notably, no Latin colony of this sort rebelled against Rome during the Second Punic War when Hannibal tried to get as many of the socii to cast off the Romans as he could.

What is important for what we are doing here is to note that the socii seem to have been permitted to contribute to the initial groups settling in these colonies and that these colonies were much more tightly tied to Rome, often having conubium – that right of intermarriage again – with Roman citizens. The consequence of this is that, by the late third century (when Rome is going to fight Carthage) the ager Romanus – the territory of Rome itself – comprises a big chunk of central Italy (as seen in the map below) but the people who lived there as Roman citizens (with and without the vote) were not simply descendants of that initial Roman citizen body, but also a mix of people descended from communities of socii throughout Italy.”

- Bret Devereaux, “Citizens and Allies.”

[nascent-blogs]

Transition In The Role Of HR Due To Covid-19

While the lockdowns start to ease  globally, it doesn’t appear that most businesses will move away from working-from-Home immediately. Government regulations ensure that even when returning back to work, social distancing will be maintained, and for many companies, this means a staggered return to work, or only having a percentage of staff in the office at any one time. Due to this, the role of an HR has become more critical in the technology industry, especially in the Research and Development environment where the success or lack of success is directly attributed to talent. Product development and the innovation associated with finding out new solutions for existing and future markets happen only when talent is stable and engaged.

HR performance – from one end of the spectrum where the role of HR could be limited to administrative functions like issuing offer letters, payroll, benefits processing, employee database management, processing  training nominations, and the like, to the middle-of-the-road where the role of HR could be to plan headcount, work on staffing  programmes, compensation and rewards, training and development, programmes & employee  engagement.

At the other end of the spectrum, HR that plays a strategic partner role in the business – right from identifying the right business opportunities where talent needs to be invested, the right talent mix, effective organization structures with the right leader leading the group/function, identifying long-term talent needs and designing  programmes now to impact the future pipeline, effective career plans for the talent, and creating room and opportunities for their career growth, thus paving way for performance appraisals.

Developing a Remote Work Strategy

When people work in their usual workplace environment there is usually 45% social interactions,31% are more collaborative, 25% networking are more easy but After lockdown 61% desk based workers would prefer to work from home more often.

Industries had to respond in real time to business and user requests regarding remote work during the pandemic, creating a roadmap for future disaster preparedness. For instance, IT must allot more time to help users with basic tasks, such as assisting with a home office setup and securely connecting to the network. 91% of companies now support working from home, up from 63% before the coronavirus outbreak. The survey also found that 72% of employees currently work from home, compared to 34% before the pandemic began.

In case of FMCG sector, the availability of manpower and workers to run the operations, the biggest challenge faced by them were that the workers either left  for their hometowns or stayed at home during the lockdown, it would be a difficult to ensure smooth functioning," Dabur India executive director (operations) Shahrukh Khan told PTI. Expressing similar views, Parle products senior category head  Mayank Shah said, "The biggest challenge today is manpower... The new challenge facing the companies now is how to continue running their plants in absence of labour." Most of the labourers in manufacturing plant are migrant workers.

When it comes to remote working or working from home, it’s not that just IT has increased their productivity but FMCG has also seen a significant rise in their productivity .Crisis brings opportunities. This could not have been truer for the FMCG industry in 2020 even as the world grappled with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector is learning, innovating and rising from disruptions to put the worst behind and looking forward to the new  year with optimism and a new-found confidence. With food, personal care items, especially hand sanitizer’s and disinfectants -- the hero products of the pandemic -- managing to push the industry to post positive growth amid the crisis, in 2021, the FMCG industry is looking forward to carry on with the momentum and sustained revival across categories in rural and urban markets of India."

Sharing similar experience, an ITC spokesperson said, "While we have progressively obtained permissions in some states, availability of trucks continues to be the biggest challenge at the moment. Interstate and local truck movement has been severely impacted together with the challenge of shortage of manpower in factories." "These have eased some of the big bottlenecks that the industry was facing for movement of raw materials, packing materials and finished products. It would certainly help in kick-starting the functioning of the supply chain," Khan added.

Mayank  Shah, senior category head at Parle Products, said that various on-ground restrictions have also led to companies sending only high-selling and fast-moving packs into the market.

“Productivity is not just about doing more, it is about creating more impact with less work.”- Anonymous

Appraisal Strategies

There are some common HR practices that serve as a guideline for many organizations and in order to add value  to the humane factor in an organization, resource policies align with business strategy. It is necessary to look upon the need of organization and its employees. There are certain HR activities that support in reaching a competitive advantage regardless of organizational setting or industry. At the same time, there are large numbers of best practices that have shown lead to superior performance for the organization. If, HR executes practices correctly, they will add substantial value to the business and its goals. HR practices plays significant role in employee’s attitude towards their workplace.

Best practice is also referred as high commitment model as there are certain best human resource practice which results in enhanced organizational performance, lower level of turnover and absenteeism, higher level of skills for higher productivity, enhanced quality and efficiency. Best practice also highlights the relationship between sets of good HR practices and organizational performance, mostly defined in terms of employee satisfaction and commitment. There are some of the common HR practices which are adapted in order to keep the employees  happy such as providing security to employees, selective hiring, self-managed and effective teams, fair and performance based compensation, training, open communication and making information easily accessible to those who need it.

Hindustan Unilever HR Practices have a strong focus on training and development according to their requirement which helps in improving communication, email programming, offers compensation packages based on skills and experience of candidate, professional counseling and support services for employees and eligible for family members, career development in all business unit.

HR practice helps to maintain a better connection among management and employees. Nowadays retaining an employee has become a  difficult task so in order to retain the employee for longer period,  various HR practices are implemented. Every organization has different sets of HR practices and they follow it vigorously.

“The job of human resources is to make sure that resources come to work with their hearts and go back to their homes with happiness.”-Amit Kalantari

[interimmanagement01]

Business Companion Singapore

HR Generalists currently performing a conventional HR position, with three-5 years of experience in a supervisory or managerial capability, transiting into a HR Business Partner function. In current years Michael labored in China for Marriott to open new properties and a few of its flagship resorts. 

Michael also worked for the Society of Petroleum Engineers in Malaysia as their Asia Pacific Director of Operations liable for organizing and managing trade-related MICE activities. In his tenure, he has also developed good relationship with key stakeholders and decision makers in many national oil companies and international oil and fuel companies. 

Michael additionally labored as an impartial advisor handling several pre-opening and restructuring projects. Elsie has labored in various multi-national and local SMEs and in several sectors similar to manufacturing, electronics, construction, engineering and oil & gasoline. Her span of duty and experience are spent in varied regional and leadership roles across totally different regions in ASEAN, Australia, China and Middle East.

Regional experiences within the same or associated business will placed you a league above the remainder. You shall be someone with excellent individuals expertise when it comes to staff’ related issues and being adaptable to modifications. 

You will also be someone who is flexible in dealing with people of all cultural ranges and demographic backgrounds. Apart from the mentioned, you will also be someone who enjoys working in a collaborative and cohesive surroundings with the will to develop along with the organization. 

interim management Cambodia will also support the senior management in worth-added reports focused on business metrics, month-to-month outcomes and P&L reviews. You will work intently with the regional accounting groups which helps the finance operations.

An thrilling HR Business Partner (six-month contract) job has simply turn out to be out there at a world agency based in Singapore. This role supports the Head of HR in partnering with the enterprise to make sure that the appropriate level of HR support and service is offered to them in accordance with their enterprise necessities in Southeast Asia and Australia. 

Find everything you want on your HPE partnership, all in one secure place. Get quick, direct access to personalised gross sales instruments and sources like collaboration, coaching, demand generation and enterprise-administration perception. 

You can delete any information that you share on these sites at any time through your relevant social media platform’s account. Shell doesn't observe your exercise throughout the different social media sites that you just use.

Entrepreneurs who entice this kind of investor must be clear in their thoughts that they're on the lookout for a associate who will provide support and supply their opinion on tips on how to run the company.

 Whilst income are split equally between partners, liability for loses are also cut up between all parties, due to this fact It goes with out saying that not all investors or entrepreneurs are interested in this type of partnership.

At Grab, we consider that every one partnerships ought to begin with figuring out the strategic intent of our partners. We prefer to take over a Fashion or Jewelry Accessories Retail Shop Interested enterprise homeowners please contact us at Tel or e mail to your proposals for our consideration. 

We prefer to take over promoting or trading of Wellness and Healthcare Product Business Interested enterprise house owners please contact us at Tel or e-mail your proposals to for our consideration.

She has specific experience and strength in talent acquisition, human resource growth, compensation and advantages improvement, payroll administration and management, talent administration, worker communication and relations. Coupled with that, she has wonderful enterprise acumen with strong work ethics.

His latest HR achievements embody the profitable implementation of the new labour contract and commerce union setup at Lotus Supermarket 's corporate head-office and across its 32 cities throughout North, South, South-west and East regions of China. 

Besides, he having assisted a neighborhood Chinese labour legislation agency-HR Laboroot to publish a new labour contract law e-book. William Toh has an in depth working experience in China since 1992 and having more than 25 years of working expertise which covered areas together with Education, Business Development, General Management, Human Resource Management, Leadership & Talent Development, Service Quality & Excellence and Sales Management. 

Decades of expertise in native and regional HR practices and expert data in labour legal guidelines. An opportunity to work with a very dynamic and culturally numerous staff from respected organizations. Our shopper is a expertise start-up arm of an established US Consulting firm.

Let's work together to design long-time period, revolutionary and integrated product solutions - to better serve your small business wants. Any taste enterprise is manufacturing and produce flavoring, extracts & important oil for food or creating beverage corporations are excited about selling. 

We have potential buyers are trying the acquisition of such similar enterprise. Looking purchase over A Gymnasium Fitness Centre, any sizes shall be thought of.

Trusted and innovative companion programmes that allow you to create solutions and providers to rework industries, markets and lives. Our greater than 500,000 people in more than one hundred twenty countries, combine unmatched experience and specialised skills throughout greater than forty industries.

 Michael Giam is an international business professional with a long time of senior management experience working in extremely complex and cross-cultural business environments. Michael’s international breadth of expertise spans both in public institutions and personal firms focusing primarily on business fundamentals and human capital to determine clear and achievable strategic enterprise goals.

 William has served in main corporations in the areas of enterprise consultation, common administration and HR management working experiences which include AstraZeneca , Beecham SmithKline , Cisco , General Electric , HP , IBM-Lotus Dev. , ITE , Lenovo , Legend-AOL , Lotus Supermarket ; 

Merchant Bank , Motorola , Philips , Singapore Telecommunication , SITA , Siemens , Statschippac and Standard Chartered Bank . • Provide the chance for HR Generalists to transit into strategic HR business companion function and set up their presence as a revered strategic HR Business Partner within the business.

Extensive proven digital experience (5+) in medium-giant organizations working with Marketing, Medical and Commercial groups. Proven experience working with senior business leadership groups creating and delivering technique and working plans with demonstrated competency in strategic thinking, management and relationship administration.

 Extensive "hands-on" data in omni-channel communication, gross sales enablement and project management to deliver cutting-edge technical solutions to assist campaigns and revolutionary marketing strategies that accelerate development. 

S/he works very intently with the Customer Experience Lead as well as play an necessary role in the company's go to market strategy. A Business Partner on the NTP refers to a enterprise entity that's linked to your corporation through the NTP. You can invite or add your business companions on the NTP at present to establish a enterprise connection and to grow your community.

 In doing so, you can start collaborating by using the NTP's Data Repository tool for your corporation transactions.

Our client is a famend European life science firm listed in the inventory change. They are increasing their presence in APAC and are taking a look at growing their staff in Asia. They are a good company established for more than 30 years with a reputation of being one of the top 10 medical units firm in their speciality within the life science vertical. 

Get the best experience with sooner job functions and easy accessibility to your CV and profile. For agreements which have a term of more than 5 years and for the needs set out above, these agreements might be held for 35 years with impact from the commencement of the settlement.

He/She ought to be capable of determine key areas of improvement, mannequin the ROI - influence and drive discovery or scoping workshops and problem the "status quo". S/he provides consultancy and acts as an in-depth expertise skilled and trusted advisor and associate on any expertise associated initiatives and improvements across all markets in the region. 

The unique Crate and Barrel assortment of housewares and furniture can rework your space and your corporation. Your buyer is our buyer, and we know how to create the particular away-from-home experiences that they are looking for.

 NTP supports the current and former launch versions of Safari, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Opera internet browsers. If you're using an earlier model, your expertise could also be restricted to the technical capabilities of your gadget platform and browser.

[rumbelleshowdown]

Author:  Ketchup

Prompt:  dancing in the rain

Group: E

-

Dancing in the Rain

Belle sat in her unmoving carriage and sighed. It had been over a half hour now since the carriage’s wheel had broken from its axle. The coachman had taken one of the horses to the nearest village and gone for help, leaving poor Belle stranded with only her young footman who looked barely old enough to be working such a job in the first place.

She, at first, had been waiting outside with the boy, but she could tell by his body language that she was making him nervous, so she stuffed herself and her huge yellow dress back inside and counted the minutes pass her by. She just couldn’t miss Prince Gaston’s ball! She just couldn’t; not when the future of her life, her kingdom, and the lives of her countrymen were on the line! There had been a rumour that this was the night he was supposed to ask her hand in marriage, if she missed tonight, missed the ball, he might rescind his offer. This was absolutely the worst time for a wheel to break! Though there wasn’t much she could do about her current situation, she felt helpless and panicked.  She waited and ten more minutes passed.

A knock came at her carriage door from the young footman. “Miss, pardon the interruption,” he said. “I think I found a solution to your problem.”

“What is it?” Belle immediately came out of the carriage. “What is it, Baelfire?”

“Well,” the boy said sheepishly, as he pointed to another vehicle parked right besides them. “This man here is my Papa, his name is Rumplestiltskin. He just happened to be passing this very road with some of his yarn for sale. He’s headed over to the next kingdom to sell it at market tomorrow morning. He said he can give you a ride if you wish it.”

“Oh! Thank you so much, yes,” Belle said, immediately as she hurried toward the small cart. The man in front of her, the footman’s father, looked somewhat similar to the boy but with straggly long brown hair and tired eyes. He bowed upon receiving her.

“If I can be of service, I’d love to help serve the crown,” he said. Belle thanked him again and both he and his son helped Belle and her poofy dress get situated in the cart after seconds of shoving, lifting, and manoeuvring. She felt ridiculous with all the room she took up, but the man said he didn’t mind.

“I think I’ll stay here, Miss. In case the driver comes back, I think it’s important he knows you're safe. I’ll trust my Papa to take good care of you.”

They nodded and continued on. The journey was taking longer than she hoped. The man’s single mule was no match for the thoroughbred horses that pulled her carriage. They made slow time and soon darkness and clouds started to creep into the sky. The man didn’t say much and seemed equally as nervous as his son had been in her presence as they rode on together. He finally broke the silence after he too noticed the clouds rolling in. “Looks like it’s going to rain.”

“Oh, please don’t say that. That would almost be worse than the carriage breaking down.!”

As if on cue it began to sprinkle. She heard the man spit out a mild curse before his eyes widened, realizing what he had done in the presence of this kingdom’s royalty. “Oh, I beg forgiveness princess, it’s just, if this rain keeps up, my yarn’s going to be spoiled for market.”

“It will likely ruin the silk on my dress too. It seems like we both are rooting against the rain.”

“We’re nearly there. Not much further. I think there’s a tarp in the back you might be able to use to keep a little dry, but after the rain soaks through it, it won’t be much help. We can keep traveling or we can try to find some cover by the trees, what do you want me to do?”

Belle quickly weighed her options. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to press on. It’s imperative for our kingdom’s future that I go to this ball before it ends. If it does rain, I can compensate you triple for your loss of product, not to mention compensation for helping a princess in severe distress.” He nodded.

Everything was looking up. She can see the outskirts of the city; they were nearly there but the ball was almost over by now. If she could make at least the last hour of the event, her bad luck would certainly change for the better. Just as they entered the city gates the rain started picking up significantly, but it wasn’t too bad, there was still a chance they could make it. She could tell that Rumplestiltskin was determined, he pushed his mule hard the closer they got to the castle as the rain really began to start pouring down.

“Oh no, no, we can’t let you two take the main road into the castle’s entrance,” said the gatekeeper. “You lot are far too unsightly for the royal types to see you.”

“But I’m the princess of the neighboring kingdom. You saw my invitation, I have with me I’m an honoured guest, please...”

“Doesn't matter. I’ll get a whipping if I let you through the main gate in that musty cart. You can take the service and staff road where they park the carriages. I’ll send one of my men ahead of you to let you in through the staff’s quarters. We’ll inform the master that you have arrived.”

“Thank you,” Belle said. While she wanted to argue, they were getting more wet the longer they were outside. Hopefully her dress would make it through the last leg of the journey. Up to then she'd been using the flimsy tarp Rumplestiltskin had given her and even some of the yarn itself to try and stay dry. It seemed to be doing the trick, but she wouldn’t know how she fared until she had to get out of the wagon. She feared the worst.

The sound of lively music and laughter filled her ears as they got closer towards the castle’s staff entrance. Rumplestiltskin was in the process of helping Belle out of the wagon when Gaston himself walked out and stayed under the protection of the awning, just shy of the rain.

“I can’t have you coming in like that, Princess.”

“What, but I’m hardly even wet!” She had just finished getting out of the cart, while Rumple helped her keep her dress away from the mud.

“But you are still wet. Your hair and makeup are a mess, not to mention your dress’s covered in all that filth. It absolutely won’t do. I must ask that you not enter the building. You can wait till the rain lets up, if you must, before you leave.” Gaston went back inside without another word. 

“What is wrong with that brute!” Belle screamed out loud, letting her dress fall in the mud as she rushed to follow after Gaston into the castle, banging at the door for a few moments before giving up. She returned to Rumplestiltskin who was just standing there in the middle of the rain. “I tried and I failed. I’m so sorry. The future of our kingdom is-” She clutched onto the unsuspecting Rumplestiltskin and sobbed deeply into his chest. Her tears mixed with the heavy rainfall as her sobs grew deeper.

It was just her and him, the sound of the rain, her cries, and the music in the background. They stood in the middle of the rain soaked to the bone.  After she finished crying all her tears, the sound of the rain and the party, just a wall away remained. It was such a lovely song playing now, it was her favorite one. She sobbed once more, then looked up at him.

“May I have this dance?”

The two began softly swaying to the music as the rain continued on.