TEDX GETS LOCALS TO PRESENT IDEAS WORTH SPREADING

Throughout his career in human resources and management, Rex Gale’s easy, approachable style motivated employees. Now’s he’s motivating people on Hilton Head Island to take the stage and share their ideas. Gale presented the island’s third TEDx event last month, and between those who have spoken at the forums and the people who have come to hear them, much of the Lowcountry has taken note.

SAVING FOR RETIREMENT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR RISING NUMBER OF SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS

For many looking to cast off the corporate shackles and live in the freelance eat-what-you-kill, work-in-your-PJs wilds of the gig economy, there is one very large incentive keeping them in the 9-to-5. No, it’s not the endless supply of free birthday cakes that seem to pop up weekly in your typical office — although freelancers do miss them from time to time. It’s the chance to invest in your future.

CHARLESTON ENTREPRENEUR FINDS NEW BUSINESS BRINGS FLAVOR TO LIFE

Salt and its partner, pepper, are ubiquitous; they’ve got a spot on practically every table in America. But rarely do we think about where that salt comes from.

That’s where Charleston native Bertha Booker comes in.

FIRE & PINE IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY IN RIDGELAND

Intricately detailed maps of locales in all 50 states and historical sites. Decorative signs and artwork. Carefully constructed zodiac charts.

All painstakingly burned into untreated pine by artists at Fire & Pine, a small Ridgeland company whose reach extends far beyond the Lowcountry.

REALTOR CHARLES SAMPSON HAS SEEN THE UPS AND DOWNS OF ISLAND REAL ESTATE

Charles Sampson first visited Hilton Head Island as a boy in 1958, when his family drove three hours from his native Aiken to spend a day at the beach.

“Back then, you drove your car right out on the beach. You’d run back into the bushes to put your bathing suit on,” says Sampson, owner, agent and founding partner of Charter One Realty-North. “If you came to Hilton Head for a vacation, you’d better like the ocean, because that was pretty much it.”

USE YOUR BRAIN TO CONQUER YOUR GOALS

It’s the beginning of a new year and many of us are feeling motivated to take action and make changes in our lives. However, 80 percent of people have strayed from their resolutions by the time February rolls around. The same thing can happen to your professional goals as well, and if you are a business leader this can be a disaster. Failing by February can put you on a devastating path for the entire year. Staying motivated is a skill you can develop to help you reach your goals throughout the year. Here are three tips from brain science to keep you motivated to achieve your goals all year long.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND VOLATILITY IN THE STOCK MARKET

The fourth quarter of 2018 was a reminder that financial markets can go both up and down. Some days we saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average swing 1,000 points in both directions — up and down and down and up. We also saw the CBOE Volatility Index, the market measure of potential volatility, increase from 12.12 on Sept. 28 to 25.42 on Dec. 31 — a whopping 100 percent increase.

BEAUFORT DIGITAL CORRIDOR LOOKS TO 2019 FOR GROWTH

From college students to recent retirees, the Beaufort Digital Corridor has attracted a variety of skills to the Lowcountry in its first two years.

Modeled after a similar program in Charleston, the Beaufort Digital Corridor helps facilitate development and growth for companies hoping to profit off of South Carolina’s $11 billion tech industry.

In 2009, Boeing opened an assembly and delivery facility in North Charleston — the second in the country to produce the company’s 787 Dreamliner. The move to South Carolina was part of Boeing’s strategy to diversify geographically; its only other Dreamliner facility is in Everett, Washington. Boeing got a warm welcome in the Palmetto State.

WORK TOGETHER WITH YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER

Successful financial advisers are passionate about keeping up with changes in the industry and committed to educating their clients. This is important because financial and investment laws and products are constantly evolving.

A good financial planner will help you manage your total financial picture. Cash flow planning, retirement planning, investment management, insurance planning, estate planning, and tax planning are a few key areas that a financial adviser can help with. But even the best financial adviser is only as good as the information you share with him or her.