Do dating apps make you feel like just another face in the crowd? Like absolutely nothing distinguishes you from the dozens of other guys vying for the attention of a worthy partner? At least twenty other guys have the same photo with a big fish. They also have a blurry group photo and a selfie from two years ago. If you feel like you’re just part of the herd, your photos are probably to blame.

2021 saw 323.9 million online dating users, 19% of whom spoke to about 11 matches at a time (cloudwards.net). That’s a lot of people to compete with! Chances are, your profile pictures are hindering you from standing out.

The Match Artist, a group of professional, charismatic photographers who specialize in taking photos for online dating profiles, can highlight what makes you unique so you shine brighter than any of the other guys swiping on the app. According to The Match Artist co-founder Nick Friesen, ”While working with a professional dating photographer, you’re getting a real edge over the competition, especially considering that 85% of people on dating apps use selfies.” When you’re up against millions of other potential matches for the partner of your dreams, you should take any competitive edge you can get.

The Secrets

The Match Artist photographers not only have experience shooting for online dating profiles—they have experience in the swiping culture themselves. Co-founders  Nick Friesen and Shane White each met their  wives on dating apps, and they are willing to share their secrets. They know how to help guys engage matches on dating apps, and they have seen firsthand  what works and what doesn’t. In fact, they’ve helped more than 700 guys up their online dating game.

Their first piece of advice? Be aware of what your face is doing in front of the camera. For many guys, taking pictures is high on their list of dreaded activities, along with paying taxes or standing in line at the DMV. . This discomfort tends to show up in their pictures and does not inspire potential matches to message back. To combat the awkwardness, The Match Artist photographers use facial expression coaching to train clients how to subtly move muscles in their face to produce natural-looking expressions, even when they aren’t feeling it. The results are more expressive, inviting pictures that impress clients and the online dating community alike. The Match Artist promises to “provide real-time coaching to make sure your facial expressions allow others to see you in your best light.” They take out the guesswork  so you can focus on showing off everything that makes you unique.

Their next piece of advice is to get comfortable in your environment. The Match Artist knows you’ll probably be uncomfortable taking pictures in a studio, and feeling awkward during a shoot results in weird pictures. So instead, their A-list photographers come to you. They have photographers based in major U.S. cities, and they’ve traveled all around the country to capture guys in their natural environment.

Once there, The Match Artist captures guys doing what they love. They’ve photographed everything, from cooking to kayaking to painting to flying airplanes.  Nick Friesen says, “The goal is to show who you really are by capturing your passions, hobbies, or interests. I like to compare the shoot to a typical Saturday morning where you start the day relaxing at home and then spend time doing what you love. The only difference is that there’s a photographer alongside you.” Nick knows it’s important to capture clients in their real environment because that’s where they really shine. The Match Artist wants you to look good and feel confident, and they are willing to go the distance to make it happen.

Potential matches on dating apps like to see that you leave your house occasionally and do things. Your hobbies and unique interests will  set you apart from the rest, and will make potential matches intrigued to learn more. This is an opportunity for you to connect with someone who is like-minded and possibly even shares your passion.

If you’re  contemplating just how awkward it would be to allow a stranger into your house to photograph you in different settings, you’re not alone. However, The Match Artist makes sure you’re comfortable. Beyond hiring only the most personable photographers, most clients compare the session to hanging out with a friend. “It’s about getting people to open up,” Nick explains. He says many clients feel comfortable speaking openly with them simply because of the friendly environment they create. In addition to hundreds of fantastic photos and a newfound confidence to take on the world, you may come out of your session with a new friend you can confide in. Remember that co-founders Nick Friesen and Shane White have been through this experience, too. They can empathize with the process better than most other photographers.

The Value

You’re probably wondering if you want to pay to have photos taken when you have perfectly good bathroom selfies on your profile. And you just got a match the other week!  Surely, the pictures can’t make that much of a difference.

The Match Artist and their Google reviews would prove otherwise. The Match Artist has a growing list of glowing reviews from guys like you who might have been on the fence at first, but now they’re  so happy with their results. Many attest to getting more matches than they can feasibly manage since doing a photoshoot with The Match Artist.

“These guys really work. Thanks to Match Artist, I now have more women messaging me than I could ever hope to date in my lifetime! Shane was awesome. He came right to my door and made the shoot an easy, fun experience. Just show up as your best self and they’ll take care of the rest.”

“Working with Nick was an absolute pleasure! He was extremely thoughtful and genuinely wanted to make sure that I was extremely pleased with all the pictures… I highly recommend The Match Artist for any man who is looking to maximize his results on dating apps/social media… who wants to put as little time/effort towards online dating while maximizing their results and efficiency. Can’t recommend them enough, thank you for the great experience!”

Better photos equals better matches, and better matches are an investment in yourself and your future. By booking The Match Artist, you receive life-changing photos and the confidence that you’re finally distinguished from the other millions of guys on dating apps. The Match Artist can bring you to the forefront and keep you running through your matches’ minds.

As Dr. Seuss wisely said, “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” Never be just another face on dating apps again. Let The Match Artist help you stand out today.

Dr. Kent Ingle is a man on a mission. As President of Southeastern University and a thought-leader in higher education, Ingle is determined to break the mold of student finance options and enable undergraduates to leave school free of crushing lifelong debt.

“At SEU, we are working to create communicational impact and begin new conversations about what higher education can and should be — including affordability and accessibility,” said Ingle.

It’s a lofty ambition. But,  thanks to Dr. Ingle’s talents as an administrator, business acumen, and strategic abilities — which have led numerous organizations to his door for advice on corporate structuring and strategic planning — he is more than capable of bringing this goal to fruition.

Interviewing Legends

A born communicator, Dr. Ingle began his career with a bang. At just 18 years old, the future university president picked up a coveted internship at a national TV network. His superiors quickly recognized his mature demeanor, intelligence, and flair for storytelling, and he was placed in front of the camera as a sportscaster.

And, boy, did he hit the road running. Instantly at ease in the studio, Dr. Ingle was popular with his colleagues and audiences alike. He was highly valued for his reading of sports tactics, understanding of team dynamics, and perceptive questioning of athletes. So much so that he quickly moved up the ladder to become a respected anchorman, interviewing sporting legends such as Michael Jordan, Carl Lewis, and even Muhammad Ali.

However, Dr. Ingle’s glittering career in the media lacked depth and, despite his success, he felt unfulfilled, and began the search for a new path that would enable him to give back to society.

A Higher Calling

Going back to his family roots, Dr. Ingle was reminded of his father, who had raised his children to think beyond their own wants and needs, be aware of their place in the world, and contribute to society with God in their hearts.

“Inside, I knew I was designed for something more. So when I laid my broadcast career down to follow God’s calling, I found out who I really was meant to be,” said Dr. Ingle.

So, he set out to lead a few non-profit organizations before garnering experience in academia at a previous institution. In 2011, he embarked on a new journey at Southeastern University (SEU). For him, it was a grand opportunity to help guide the next generation on their path to adulthood.

“People thought I was crazy when I changed careers. I left TV to work in the nonprofit world. I quickly realized that the two careers have something in common: storytelling in a way that grabs your audience and stays with them. I can tell stories that teach people and help them to see how to be better at being who they are and recognizing their unique gifts and talents,” said Dr. Ingle.

Now, just over a decade later, under the leadership of Dr. Ingle, the student body at the private Christian university in Florida has swelled to more than 10,000 students, including 3,000 students participating in classes at SEU’s main campus in Lakeland, Florida, and another 7,000 attending classes offered through various delivery models around the world.

Moreover, highlighting the profound impact of Dr. Ingle’s leadership, Southeastern University has been cited by The Chronicle of Higher Education (CHE) as one of the fastest-growing non-profit private education centers in the States in 2022. Not to mention the university’s 240% surge in enrollment. All this success led to SEU achieving fourth place on CHE’s list of all master’s colleges in the country.

A New Approach

In addition to increased student registration and a more flexible approach to studying, one of the doctor’s prime goals is to slash graduate debt and end the cycle of frustration and hardship which often comes with the current model of funding students.

“We want to continue to reimagine traditional education,” said Dr. Ingle. “We want to help students enter the workforce faster while attending college that is also less expensive. Our goal is for students to be debt-free upon graduation and land a job post-college.”

The current system has become unworkable, with the burden of student debt seriously affecting young people’s mental health, limiting their potential and crippling careers before they have begun. He felt compelled to change things up and that is exactly what he did.

“Ultimately, that’s what university presidents should do; we are here to help students discover who they are destined to become. That’s what drives me,” said Dr. Ingle.

With wise words of wisdom coming from this eminent educator, it’s no wonder that enrollment is up at Southeastern University.

About Dr. Kent Ingle

Dr. Kent Ingle is the President of Southeastern University, public speaker and recognized thought leader. Ingle is passionate about creating lasting change in higher education and setting up organizations for success. He is the author of The Modern Guide to College and host of the popular Framework Leadership podcast. For more information about Dr. Kent Ingle, please visit www.kentingle.com

Saffron is a powerful spice. Native to the Middle East, its sweet, floral, earthy flavor is a staple among Mediterranean, Asian and European cuisines. Afghanistan has long produced some of the best saffron in the world and is the third-largest saffron producer after Iran and India.

Growing and cultivating saffron is physically and mentally demanding. The online saffron supplier based out of Arizona, Yaqoot Saffron, witnessed first-hand just how draining this job is for farmers and their families.

How Afgan Saffron Farming Works

Yaqoot Saffron’s founder, Mehdi Yavari, traveled to Afghanistan to source saffron suppliers to sell the spice here in the US. On his trip, he visited several farms in the Herat Province, producing most of Afghanistan’s saffron. As you’d probably imagine, the farms were filled with tired-looking workers crouched down, picking the violet leaves from early morning until late afternoon. But what seemed off to Mehdi was the amount of small school-aged children “hanging out” in the fields as their caretakers harvested the flowers.

Children in Afghanistan Saffron Farms

Kids of all ages sat around all day in the field, waiting. So why were they there in the first place? Shouldn’t they be in school?

Mehdi learned that there is a severe lack of public (and private) education options in these families’ areas. Parents don’t want to bring their children to the saffron fields, but there is genuinely no other option. It’s unsafe to leave children home alone, and most families can’t afford to send their children to school.

Suddenly, the lovely crimson spice looked different to Mehdi. On a mission to help better the lives of Afghan farmers while sharing saffron’s earthy, subtly sweet flavor profile, Yaqoot Saffron was born.

Where To Buy High-Quality Saffron?

A quick search of saffron online will yield hundreds of results. Yaqoot Saffron is a US-based online merchant offering top-quality Afghan saffron grown by local farmers. Before the spice hits your dinner table, the saffron undergoes several stages, including cultivation, drying, lab testing, and packaging.

Yaqoot Saffron is Giving Back

For many Afghan children, completing primary school is a distant dream, especially in rural areas and for little girls. Yaqoot Saffron gives a portion of every purchase back to local Afghan farmers. These funds go towards providing much-needed education for the children of the farmers.

No child should sit in a field when they should be learning in a classroom. You can discover more about how Yaqoot Saffron is changing the lives of saffron farmers in this video.

A real hearth with a roaring fire is a true pleasure. Not only do home fires provide warmth and light during the colder months of the year, but the flickering glow of orange flames as they burn through wood and coal adds instant character to any room.

However, if we don’t make sure our chimneys are regularly cleaned and well-maintained, the attractive special features can quickly become a source of real danger.

Joe Ochal, Founder of Chimney Scientists, knows better than most the hazards that can arise when people neglect to care for their chimneys. And whether it is discouraging an infestation of chimney swifts, protection against carbon monoxide poisoning, or preventing a blazing inferno from raging through your home, Ochal is determined to make the public understand the importance of chimney maintenance.

Now responsible for a staff of 20 chimney experts, Ochal set up Chimney Scientists as a one-person operation to help him pay his way through college. Realizing the potential for his business, he expanded the company into a full operation serving customers in Montgomery, Chester, and Bucks Counties as well as some areas of Philadelphia and Delaware.

In addition to installing fireplace add-ons, such as stoves and gas inserts, the chimney professional’s main focus is the inspection, cleaning, and restoration of chimneys, and he is an authority on the details of why you should always keep your chimney clean.

The Dark Danger of Creosote

The smoke produced when you burn wood fuel contains biomass particles. When this smoke is trapped inside a small space, such as a chimney, it forms condensation in the flue. The substance left on the walls is called creosote. Creosote is black or dark brown material that can appear either as dark, hard and glossy; crumbly and flaky; or even as a thick molasses-like substance.

Creosote is a complex mixture made up of hundreds of chemicals. When a chimney is first used, the layer of soot and creosote is pretty simple to clean, but with every subsequent use, the creosote deposits build up. Eventually, this build-up of highly combustible material will interfere with the flow of air through the chimney, increasing the likelihood of the creosote igniting and starting a chimney fire.

Chimney fires happen regularly, and often without the knowledge of the homeowner. Some warning signs to look out for include a powerful smell of burning tar, dense dark smoke, and unusual sounds, similar to a train coming from the chimney stack.

And, as Ochal points out, “the temperature for ignition doesn’t even need to be that high. Creosote is seriously combustible and can catch fire at just 451 degrees. That temp is easily reached, and often exceeded, by the average home fire.”

Sounds bad, right? But even worse, the heat of the fire can cause cracks to appear within the shaft. If you don’t have these repaired, moisture can enter the chimney’s brickwork, which, in a process called spalling, will freeze and expand, causing cracks and weakening the tile liner of the stack.

“During a chimney fire, a cracked tile liner can break down even further, allowing the fire to spread beyond the chimney, and before long, you have a full-blown house fire,” explained Ochal.

Pest Control

However, it isn’t just cracks in the masonry or the build-up of creosote in the chimney that homeowners need to watch out for when maintaining the safety of a home fire. All manner of birds, critters, and pests like to make their homes inside domestic flues and are another common cause of chimney ignition.

Raccoons, squirrels, and more are tempted by the promise of an uncapped smoke stack and will happily make their home there. Birds love to build nests inside a flume and their nests, constructed mainly from twigs and small branches, are extremely combustible and a significant fire hazard if not removed.

Ochal points out that even though you may not use a flue very often, maybe just a couple of times a year or less, fire hazards caused by nesting birds and rodents are greater than if you use them more frequently.

“Combustible blocks inside a chimney, caused by nests and animal waste like feathers and guano, will build up the less you use it. These materials are just as dangerous as creosote and will, in due course, cause a chimney fire.”

However, almost all chimney fires can be prevented. And by ensuring you have completed regular inspections and maintenance and that your chimney has been professionally capped, you can ensure the safety of your home and family.

Now you know what to do to prevent a fire and why — make sure you do it!

About Chimney Scientists

Joe Ochal is the Founder of The Chimney Scientists, serving the Philadelphia area. The Chimney Scientists is a full-service chimney and fireplace company that provides chimney and fireplace repairs, inspections, and cleanings, as well as historical restorations. To find out more about chimney repairs, please visit https://chimneyscientists.com/

If you want to build a successful and sustainable company, you need to set achievable and motivating goals. Michael Patrick, the COO and managing attorney at The Property Advocates says it’s essential to create well-defined goals.

Creating goals can be tricky, though, and if you’re not careful about the goals you set and how you communicate those goals, it can lead to unrealistic expectations that result in plans that are difficult, if not impossible, to follow through on.

Follow the tips below to help you avoid the downfall of setting goals that aren’t achievable and motivating.

Be Specific and Flexible

Company goals that are specific are actually motivating. Setting a generic goal of increasing sales will not be nearly as effective as setting a specific goal of increasing new clients by 10% in the next month.

The reason for this is those specific goals are objectively measurable.

“When you set generic goals, they are always up for interpretation,” said Michael Patrick of The Property Advocates. “Employees may think they’re doing well if they increase qualified leads by 5%, but are you, as their manager going to be happy with that?”

Outlining the specific goal — in this instance, both the growth percentage and the timeframe — helps employees understand what they’re working toward.

At the same time, company goals need to be flexible. Market conditions can change quickly, and you should be open to adjusting your goals on the fly based on market conditions.

Provide the Roadmap and Required Support

While writing the goals, creating a roadmap of ideas for how employees can achieve them is important. While you certainly want to give your employees the leeway to figure some things out on their own, it’s a great idea to provide examples of different tactics they can take and tools they can use to achieve those goals.

In addition, it’s important to understand what support employees may need to achieve the goals, whether it’s education, mentorship, or resources — both monetary and non-monetary. Showing employees that you’re well prepared to help them achieve their goals is a great way to motivate them.

Communicate the Why

One of the most important aspects of achieving company goals is getting buy-in from the employees working toward the goals. Michael Patrick says that’s why it’s so crucial that when you’re setting goals, you’re also defining how you are going to communicate why the goals are so important.

“You do not want your team to simply go through the motions or run through a task list mindlessly. They need to understand why they are doing each task and what comes before and after that action item so they can see the big picture.”

Creating an inclusive work environment is essential in motivating employees to work how you want them to work. Without this buy-in, getting the entire team to work their hardest to achieve the goals you set will be challenging.

So, as you’re writing company goals, keep in mind how you’re going to communicate why the goals are important to the company and your employees.

About Michael Patrick

As an attorney, passionate problem-solver, and The Property Advocates’ COO, Michael Patrick uses his legal background to solve complex issues and attain the best solutions with the least risk. Michael enjoys mentoring clients through challenges and leading them toward the best outcomes. Michael earned his Juris Doctorate from Barry University School of Law and enjoys spending weekends with his wife, Miranda, and three children, Aiden, AnnaBelle, and Ava.

When Matt Kirkegaard, founder of Movement Property Group, drove into Nashville to pursue his musical dreams in 2007, he had no community in the music city — and no idea how to find one.

Today, the well-known luxury property firm founder considers the entire city his community and has his own favorite ‘third places,’ or relaxing places that are not your home or office,  scattered throughout the city.

Movement Property Group has always done things differently. Kirkegaard is a ‘big picture’ businessman, and he knows that people move to his city for far more than just a gorgeous home. That’s why he and his team are focused on introducing clients to the best ‘third places’ the city has to offer and showing them that, if they move to Nashville, it will be easy to find corners of the city where they feel at home — as well as people that share their interests.

You might be asking yourself, ‘What do these third places have to do with selling houses?’ Well, a lot, according to Kirkegaard. He’s long been an advocate for his city and an unofficial ambassador for Nashville.

He believes that, by sharing these special places that make Nashville what it is, he sells far more homes and his buyers are much more enthusiastic about moving to the city.

“Many agents are focused on themselves during the sales transaction,” said Kirkegaard. “But you need to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. They think about how they will spend their Sunday afternoons, their Saturday nights, and where to get the best sourdough in the city. By telling them about these places — or even taking them there — they begin to see their life in this new place. And, voila, they buy that house to start living the dream life you introduced to them.”

Explaining ‘Third Places’

Third places are a concept near and dear to the founder’s heart. He loves independent coffee shops, live music bars, and exploring his city.

These are places where people go when they have free time and want to relax. They are about doing something you love among people that like the same thing. They are about places where you feel comfortable, and where the staff and patrons eventually know you by name.

By definition, they can be any space that isn’t your home or place of work. Most likely, they are local businesses like bookstores, yoga studios, or eateries.

“A city is only as strong and lively as its small businesses. When a client asks me about the best Nashville neighborhood to raise kids in or where you get the best cup of coffee, I can talk for hours about my city,” said Kirkegaard.

Selling ‘Third Places’

To Kirkegaard, selling his city makes more sense than selling a house as if it exists in a vacuum. All Movement Property Group agents are taught to become ambassadors for their city’s third places and to visit them whenever they have time.

This integrated approach has become a hallmark of the Movement buying process. Past clients rave about how the team’s love of Nashville is comprehensive and contagious. And they have a high rate of referring the property group to other friends looking to buy luxury property in Nashville.

For those that can’t get to Nashville’s third places themselves before they buy, Kirkegaard has a solution. He has been presenting a local TV show called “Selling Nashville” that shares some of his favorite third places in the city.

Though the show was originally a simple showcase for unusual luxury homes, it changed over time into something his clients wanted more — an insider’s guide to the city and its hidden gem locations.

“It organically evolved in a way that I found was more beneficial for my clients, as an introduction to neighborhoods and local hotspots that they wouldn’t otherwise know about,” he said.

In Selling Nashville’s latest episode, viewers tag along with Kirkegaard to a local winery called Love & Exile, one of the founder’s favorite third places in the city. As he chats with the bartender, you get a local perspective on life in Nashville and feel excited about the bustling southern city. And that’s exactly what Kirkegaard intends with the show.

To learn more about music city’s third places and luxury homes, be sure to contact Kirkegaard and the Movement team.

About Matt Kirkegaard and Movement Property Group

Movement Property Group (Keller Williams), created by musician and real estate agent Matt Kirkegaard, specializes in luxury and affordable housing throughout most of Tennessee, including East and West Nashville, where the company is headquartered. Kirkegaard is accompanied by Ruben Juarez and Aaron Ammon at Movement Property Group. Kirkegaard and Co. strive to make the homebuying and homeselling processes as efficient and effortless as possible. For more information and to see Movement Property Group’s impressive real estate inventory, please visit https://movementpropertygroup.com