15 Things That Will Change Your Business Forever

Are you an entrepreneur?

If so, you know that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful. But what you may not know is that there are certain things that can change your business forever. Whether it’s learning how to use social media effectively or hiring the right employees, these 15 things will help take your business to the next level. So don’t wait any longer - start implementing them today!

1. Automate your business processes

Small business owners are always looking for ways to automate their processes and save time. We’ll share some tips on how to automate your business processes using tools like Zapier and IFTTT. We’ll also show you how to set up automations for common tasks like customer feedback and lead capture. So, if you’re looking to speed up your workflow, look no further.

- Zapier Zapier is such an amazing tool to save time and boost productivity levels. The app was built to automate tasks by building ‘zaps’ and. these zaps are basically task blueprints. You can use them to integrate apps, without needing to open these apps separately. A total life saver if you ask me.

- Airtable Airtable is a popular data organizing and team collaboration tool that helps businesses organize information, manage operations, and keep track of projects. While Airtable is not a CRM, it does have similar data organization capabilities, giving it the ability to be used as a CRM.

- IFTTT IFTTT is an automation tool, similar to Zapier, that lets you easily script actions that link together devices and services easily

2. Get real-time insights into your marketing campaigns

As an entrepreneur, marketing is a key component of your business. You need to be able to reach your target audience and craft campaigns that resonate with them. However, marketing can be a complex and time-consuming process. Fortunately, there are a number of marketing tools available that can give you real-time insights into your campaigns. These tools can help you track engagement levels, identify potential issues, and make adjustments on the fly. As a result, you’ll be able to fine-tune your marketing efforts for maximum impact. So if you’re looking to get the most out of your marketing campaigns, be sure to take advantage of these powerful marketing tools.

- Google Analytics - Google Keywords - Facebook and Instagram Analytics (Meta) 10

3. Automate your customer relationship management

Customer relationship management is a crucial part of any successful business, but it can be time-consuming and difficult to keep track of. Luckily, there are a number of marketing tools available that can automate your customer relationship management, making it easier than ever to keep your customers happy. With these tools, you can quickly and easily send marketing materials, track customer interactions, and respond to customer inquiries. As a result, you’ll be able to spend less time managing your customer relationships and more time growing your business. So what are you waiting for? Automate your customer relationship management today! Email Marketing - Wix, Mailchimp, Convertkit

-Hubspot CRM

Hubspot CRM includes all the basic features you’ll need in a CRM platform, and it’s easy for beginners to use. It’s easy to design business contact profiles and get everything organized.

4. Connect with customers through social media

In today’s connected world, social media is more important than ever for businesses. Not only is it a great way to connect with potential customers, but it’s also an incredibly powerful marketing tool. As an entrepreneur, you can use social media to build buzz around your product or service, generate leads, and drive sales. What’s more, social media is a great way to connect with other businesses in your industry. By connecting with other businesses and thought leaders on social media, you can deepen your understanding of your industry and better position yourself as a thought leader yourself. In short, social media is essential for any business that wants to succeed in today’s marketplace. So if you’re not already using social media to connect with your customers, now is the time.

- Instagram - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest

5. Stay on top of your finances

As an entrepreneur, it’s important to stay on top of your finances. There are a lot of marketing tools available to help you track your spending, income and profits. Staying organized will help you make better financial decisions and keep your business running smoothly. Make sure to set aside some time each month to review your finances and make any necessary adjustments. By doing this, you’ll be able to keep your finger on the pulse of your business and ensure that it remains healthy and profitable.

11

- Wave Apps Cost: Free (Wave makes money through payment processing).

- Quickbooks Cost: $25 per month and up (50% off for first three months).

6. Streamline your human resources

As an entrepreneur, you know that time is money. And when it comes to your human resources, you need to be as efficient as possible. Marketing tools can help you streamline your HR processes and save you time and money. From online job postings to applicant tracking systems, there are a number of marketing tools that can help you find the best candidates for the job. And once you’ve found the right employees, marketing tools can also help you keep track of their performance and ensure that they’re meeting your company’s standards. By streamlining your HR processes with marketing tools, you can focus on what’s important: running your business.

7. Keep your data secure

You know that keeping your data secure is vital to protecting your business and your customers. That’s why it’s so important to use marketing tools that are designed to keep your data safe. By using marketing tools that encrypt your data and protect it from hackers, you can rest assured that your marketing efforts are safe from potential threats. In addition, by using marketing tools that offer data backup and recovery, you can protect your business in the event of a data loss. By taking steps to keep your data secure, you can protect your business and your customers.

8. Optimize your website for search engines

One of your main goals is to get your website noticed by potential customers. One way to do this is to optimize your site for search engines. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of making your site more visible to search engines like Google and Bing. This can be done by including relevant keywords in your content, structure your site in a way that makes it easy for search engines to crawl, and create fresh and interesting content that will encourage people to link to your site. By taking the time to optimize your website for search engines, you can ensure that more people will see your site and learn about your business. In addition, SEO is a cost-effective marketing tool that can help you attract new customers and grow your business

9. Get found by new customers

As an entrepreneur, you are always looking for new ways to reach potential customers.

Traditional marketing tools like print ads and TV commercials can be expensive and time-consuming, and you may not be sure if they are even reaching your target audience. Luckily, there are a number of digital marketing tools that can help you get found by new customers. Search engine optimization (SEO) can help your website rank 12 wajmagazine.com

higher in search results, while social media marketing (SMM) can help you connect with potential customers on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. By using these tools, you can reach a wider audience and get found by new customers who are looking for businesses like yours.

10. Make mobile a priority

In today’s business world, it’s more important than ever to have a mobile-friendly website. More and more people are using their phones and tablets to surf the web, and if your site isn’t optimized for mobile, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. Mobile marketing is one of the most effective marketing tools available, and as an entrepreneur, you can’t afford to ignore it. There are a number of things you can do to make your site more mobile-friendly, such as using responsive design or creating a separate mobile version of your site. However you choose to do it, making mobile a priority is essential for any business that wants to succeed in today’s market.

11. Enhance your customer service

Customer service is one of the most important aspects of your business. providing excellent customer service can help you to stand out from your competition, attract new customers and build loyalty among your existing customer base. There are a few simple steps you can take to enhance your customer service and give your business a boost. First, make sure you are responsive to customer inquiries and Complaints. Second, offer a wide range of customer support options, including phone, email and live chat. Third, go the extra mile to exceed customer expectations. By following these simple tips, you can take your customer service to the next level and create a lasting impression with your customers.

12. Automate your sales process

Automating your sales process can be a game-changer for any business, large or small. By customer service, we mean automating customer interactions from the first point of contact to post-purchase follow-up. This could include features like live chatbots, customer selfservice portals, and even automatic order processing. For entrepreneurs, automating your sales process can save you valuable time and energy so that you can focus on other areas of your business. In addition, it can help you to scale your business more effectively by freeing up your team to work on other tasks. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder that more and more businesses are choosing to automate their sales process.

13. Take advantage of cloud-based solutions

Entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to improve customer service while reducing costs. Cloud-based solutions offer a great way to do both. By using cloud-based applications, businesses can take advantage of scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. For example, a customer service representative can use a cloud-based call center solution to route customer calls to the appropriate department or agent. This type of solution is typically

13

much more affordable than traditional on-premise call center solutions. In addition, it offers entrepreneurs the ability to quickly scale their customer service operations up or down as needed. As customer service demands change, cloud-based solutions offer a great way to keep up with the changes.

14. Adopt new technologies

As an entrepreneur, you can never afford to rest on your laurels. In order to stay ahead of the competition, you need to continually adopt new technologies. customer service is a great example. In the past, customer service meant having a phone line and a customer support team. Today, customer service also includes live chat, social media, and even AIpowered chatbots. By adopting new customer service technologies, you can provide a better experience for your customers and stay ahead of the curve.

15. Think outside the traditional business model

Entrepreneurs are known for thinking outside the box, and that includes thinking outside the traditional business model. There are numerous opportunities for entrepreneurs to create new and innovative businesses that don’t fit the traditional mold. By thinking outside the traditional business model, entrepreneurs can tap into new markets and create unique products and services that offer real value to consumers. In today’s ever-changing business landscape, entrepreneur who are willing to think outside the box will be the ones who succeed. So if you’re feeling stuck in a rut, remember that there’s always room for creativity and innovation in business. Don’t be afraid to think outside the traditional business model and create something truly unique. Remember, being an entrepreneur is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Whether it’s learning how to use social media effectively or hiring the right employees, even if you don’t choose the suggested apps, finding apps or websites that can help that suite your business best can change your business forever.

14

Model: Mama Rogue Instagram: @Mama_Rogue2022 Location: Manhattan, New York City “Chinatown” Shot by: David Alexander Media

15

16

JONATHAN CASILLAS

A Hero On and Off The Field

BY: AMBER LÉ

17

They say the tales of the Jersey Legends are real... so let us tell you a story about the one who goes by the name of Jonathan Casillas. From going undrafted to not 1 but 2 Superbowl rings, the New Brunswick native takes over the football field when he steps on the turf.

But, the question is... what happens when the lights go out and the stadium empties? That’s a Jonathan Casillas you don’t often hear about. The one who has battled doubts about his own capabilities. But, that’s also the same Jonathan Casillas who write that very draft date on his hand to remind himself to continue pushing forward. He emphasized that it somehow became the best and worst day of his life. It was the first day he questioned whether or not he was good enough.

He then went on to sign with the New Orleans Saints and later, the New York Giants. “I felt like everything I put into football was coming to fruition on draft day so I thought... And then for me to not get a phone call until the late 6th round and then for me to not get drafted, that was a heartbreaking type of experience but at the same time, it helped me get a chip on my shoulder... It put things into perspective like sometimes you can work as hard as you possibly can. You can do all the right things and still get the short end of the stick.” Casillas then went on to explain how he had the option of choosing between teams, he chose to go with the New Orleans Saints. “I was able to pick between a couple of teams. That’s the thing when you don’t get drafted, if you have any suitors, you can pick... I ended up going to the Saints. History was made. We won the Superbowl XLIV that year and it’s the only Superbowl in NOLA history and I’d like to say I was a little part of that.” There were a lot of memorable moments and every veteran has their favorite memories after being in the NFL for nearly a decade. When we asked Casillas about his favorite things, he didn’t respond with anything spectacular he’d done or with two Superbowl rings he owns; instead, it was moments when his

18

daughter would run up to him after a defeat. “A lot had to do with my daughter. I love my family being at the games. She remembers the Giants days, me being the captain and the hometown team. We had some tough seasons playing for the Giants and I hate losing. To have my daughter there after the games, it helped me get through that. Like I said football means a lot and winning is everything. It cures a lot, you feel fine when you win but when you lose, it’s really hard. I just remember some losses and some wins, just seeing my daughter and her saying certain things to me like ‘It’s okay daddy, I still love you so much.’” He continued to reminisce and tell stories of how he would often spend some time with the kids who would be on the sidelines. Several times, he would walk up to the kids who retrieved the T when they kicked off and congratulated the youngsters on their performance. Jonathan Casillas explained how a player’s actions can make a child’s day by giving them some attention and praise, which leads us to the Forward Progress Camp, established eight years ago with Laurie Lazovick. Woodrow Wilson Elementary School guidance counselor Laurie Lazovick was his academic coach from freshman year through high school. Through community service initiatives, the two built a strong relationship and brought the Forward Progress Camp to life. “We created my camp 9 years ago because I wanted to do something specific to me, something that I can put my name on and I didn’t want it to be a traditional regular football camp. Those camps are amazing, especially the ones that are run the right way. I wanted to be more than just a football camp. That was like our slogan “more than just football.’” The mission of the camp is to provide kids with an environment that will teach them how to dream big, work hard and never give up on themselves. There are a lot of fundamental football activities incorporated with life lessons and academic resources. The camp will resume this summer on June 11th as the board of directors attempts to discover alternatives to cope with covid while simultaneously broadening the camp nationwide starting with the tri-state area. Casillas extends talks of mentoring skills further with Forward Progress, which includes Read Across America under the canopy. The campaign to stress the value of reading for children will be a year-round effort in which he will tour 1 or 2 schools each month. He recalled how draining it was to visit 15 schools in a week and how complicated it was due to travel and scheduling. “I had to change my whole schedule around to do it so what I’m going to do instead is to make it a year-long initiative so it’s not just Read Across America for Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Reading is important every day... We will tour 1 or 2 schools a month and hit a lot of places in Jersey and then make frequent visits back to these schools to check progress. Not only will we have these readings but we will also hold group discussions about being grateful, being respectful, and being kind to people.” The theme of this year’s campaign was “Kindness,” and kids were pleased to be able to express what they felt they did was kind. At his daughter’s school, Casillas encourages pupils from kindergarten to eighth grade to come up and speak. He wants to continue spreading the love by offering hope, as well as helping people realize their potential. Jonathan’s devotion to the youth is enhanced by his being a father. While most would 19

consider it a full-time job, Jonathan has a different perspective on it. Jonathan begins by stating that his daughter is his greatest friend, implying how much their bond has strengthened during recent years. “She’s like my little midget friend. She looks like me, a little cuter than me, maybe has a little bit more style than I have. She def has the was. She’s my partner in crime, she’s very mature, especially for such a young girl and she’s very independent, more than I was when I was that age.” He continues on with so much pride as he speaks about how proud he is and how parental guidance may be the key to a brighter future for the younger generation. “She’s a special kid and I am honored to be her dad. Fatherhood means everything and being a girl dad means everything. I think our youth in general can push boundaries and break down barriers that we don’t even know exist. They’re in a different time. They’re so much more advanced technology-wise.” After ten years, Casillas was attempting to figure out what else he was passionate about and how to improve from there as he prepared to retire. Cannabis was a popular topic among many things, especially because it looked like a hot economic bargain in 2017-18 when everyone started getting the buzz about cannabis and living in Jersey. It was always talked about. He was more immersed in thinking about how he could do it and yet remain distinct. What he really wanted to do was make it about health and well-being. Cannabis has had a bad reputation for over a century, and minorities, rape, murder, and other serious narcotics have been unfairly linked with it for so long and now it’s legalized for recreational use in the Garden State. His main goal was to continue to push the envelope forward in terms of the stigma that has plagued this community for so long. He wanted to concentrate on the athletes and develop goods that were suited only for them. Casillas was originally working with CBD, but because New Jersey has legalized it, he’s linked up with a firm called Clade 9 who recently applied to grow the process in Plainfield, NJ. He is the Head of the Social Equity Department, which is related to Forward Progress and all of his other community work, basically linking all his endeavors into one. Jade’s Garden is Jonathan’s personal brand, which he says will take a little longer because he is a perfectionist, therefore he’ll be moving slowly with Jade’s Garden but working with Clade 9 will provide him not only leverage but also momentum and expertise to launch his own individual brand. “The way they put their licenses up in Jersey, they put a heavy emphasis on social equity and also minorities. Me being apart of this company, I check a lot of those boxes, and of course, I’m a New Jersey resident. Just like I do with Forward Progress, I really want to get after this social equity, I really want to provide a lot of jobs and opportunities for people that look like me and come from places that I come from.” Even after his retirement as a professional footballer, Jonathan Casillas has not taken his foot off the gas. He’s using his experience and expertise to expand on his mission of making the community better. He is a man of his word, an outstanding father figure, and a worker when it comes to building his business empire. The Jersey Legend is all in when it comes to changing the game for the youth.

20

SAM KAMARA

by: Gavin Saxon

21

Every year, a relatively small, select group of young men gain entry into one of the four predominant sports leagues in the country. While the number varies by league, the criteria to become an athlete in one of these leagues are virtually identical across the four sports in question: you must be the best of the best and always willing to work harder than anyone else on the court or field, dedicating your entire life to your respective sport in pursuit of your goals. The select individuals who do follow this path are rewarded with a spot on the roster of one of the multi-billion dollar teams at the heart of these leagues and become a part of one of the most lucrative industries in all of the American culture, reaping the benefits of the countless hours of hard work they have put in over the years. Recently we got the chance to sit down with one of these esteemed young men. Let us do the honor of introducing you to Sam Kamara, an up-and-coming linebacker on the NFL’s Chicago Bears, and discuss his cultural background, his journey into the world of sports, and what it’s like being a member of the National Football League and virtually everything in-between.

Standing at 6’ 2” and 288 pounds, Kamara certainly passes the eye test of what you expect an NFL player to look like. It wasn’t on the football field where his journey began: “Crazy enough... I never really wanted to play football at first, I played baseball when I was younger“ he said, adding that he was a “little chubby kid” and, upon first attempting to play in fourth grade, didn’t immediately fall in love with football. It was a few years later in eighth grade when he discovered his love of the sport, making a big play during a neighborhood game in his and hitting “the real good kid in our school” only to hear all the other children begin to exclaim “Sam, you should play football!” As the saying goes, from there the rest was history; Kamara would go on to play high school football at Carteret High in NJ where he would put his versatility on full display by playing on both sides of the ball at both linebacker and fullback. He acknowledged the advantage this gave him because “it gave [him] more film” but also admitted that he was “overlooked in high school,” and that is made especially evident by the fact that, despite his versatility, he didn’t receive a star rating as most high school recruits do.

While some athletes may be a bit deterred by the lack of recognition, Sam certainly wasn’t. Instead, he highlighted the fact that it “left a chip on [his] shoulder” that, in his mind, compelled him to “keep excelling, keep excelling, keep getting better because there was obviously something they didn’t see and I made sure they would see it no matter where I went.” The rating that scouts give you doesn’t definitively determine the number of schools nor the caliber of schools that would be willing to offer an athlete a scholarship, they certainly play a substantial role and most athletes in Kamara’s position would’ve been severely disadvantaged. Remaining steadfast in his pursuit would ultimately pay off tremendously in his junior and senior years of high school when offers began rolling in, and he would end up deciding rather quickly to attend Stony Brook University.

“A couple schools offered me, the big

22

schools, Pitt offered me to be a walkon, Michigan wanted me to be a walkon, but I didn’t want to give up that opportunity… for a scholarship on a hope and dream,” Sam said when asked about his recruiting experience as a high school athlete, adding that Stony Brook “felt like home” almost immediately. “It wasn’t too far from my home but it was far enough that I could grow and be my own person… going through those college struggles, and as soon as I got there every openarmed welcomed me. The players, when I met them, when I engaged with everybody it was like I knew them for years and I only knew them for like a couple hours… I just felt like that’s where I had to be.” It looks like that feeling he had was right because his impact was felt virtually as soon as he stepped on the field his freshman year when he appeared in eight games and recorded nine tackles. This would only be the beginning of his stint at Stony Brook where he would go on to play for the next five years, receiving an NCAA exemption to play a fifth year following a season-ending shoulder injury the year prior, and would be named one of the team’s three defensive captains before his senior year. When asked about the differences between high school and college football, Sam’s sentiments echoed those of many other players who have also successfully made the transition: “Its just a little bit faster… everybody was a little bit quick, I was fast in high school but in college, everyone’s faster. I just had to pick up to the speed… and for the kids, any of the kids making that transition, be ready to work.” Sam credits his heritage, he is incredibly proud of his African descent and makes it evident on his Instagram account, for the remarkable work ethic he has garnered thus far in his life and thanks to his mother for instilling it in him: “Discipline is all we know in here…anyone with a foreign parent understands. Ain’t no games in that household…you’re gonna try to be the best at what you do.”

In hindsight, while the end of Sam’s college career was a little typical, he doesn’t regret anything that happened. “At first I thought it would impact me tremendously, but then, in the grand scheme of it, it wasn’t really bad,” Sam said when asked about the impact his shoulder injury and COVID-19 had upon his transition to the NFL “Rather than me doing combine drills, like running 40’s and doing drills, they got to actually see my how I really play. It’s like they’re watching very fresh film… I would take that spring season over the drills and everything if I’m being honest with you.” Kamara clearly wasn’t going to let a small hurdle get in the way of his goals, and even when he went undrafted, he retained that aforementioned chip on his shoulder as well as a positive attitude that things would ultimately work out in the end. “I felt like once I got a team to look at me, all I needed was a foot in the door… even when I got hurt I just kept working, kept working, kept working, My strength coach was like ‘bro, you’re in a sling, you shouldn’t even be in the weight room’ but I’m like ‘I gotta keep working, if one arm is down I gotta keep the other one strong.’’’ He would do exactly that in Chicago when the Bears elected to bring him in for a workout following the draft, with the Miami Dolphins also showing an interest in him before he ultimately signed in Chicago, and signed Sam to his first official NFL contract.

23

Similar to Stony Brook, Kamara would appear in eight games his first season with the Chicago Bears during his freshman season and record a total of ten tackles. While he is still trying to carve out a lane for himself as his career progresses, He has achieved his goal of making it to the NFL and is on the path to greatness one game at a time. It is difficult to imagine someone with as positive a mindset as Sam’s not reaching his goals, and that is made abundantly evident by the success Sam has seen at every level of his career thus far. The sky’s the limit for Sam Kamara and we here at WAJ Sports are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to speak with him and equally as eager to see what is yet to come in his budding career as an athlete in the NFL.

24

25

26