Bookmarks (120)

It’s no secret that the American economy has spent the last several years struggling to stay afloat. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of jobs have been plunged into uncertainty and chaos. While some individuals have thrived working from home trying new, innovative job opportunities, others have struggled. Especially white collar tech workers. White collar tech workers are the unlikely victims of...

Video marketing is a powerful tool for startups looking to establish their brand, reach new customers, and drive sales. According to a study by Cisco, video will account for 82% of all internet traffic by 2022. This means that video is one of the most effective ways for startups to get their message in front of their target audience. Additionally, video allows startups to...

Innovation is important for every business. As times change, businesses need to learn to create solutions that will help them adapt to shifts in consumer demand, technology, and the economic climate. When a business innovates the right way and at the right time, it could lead to huge gains in market share and the growth of the overall business. When done incorrectly or too...

You aren’t alone if you have ever felt like you have needed a vacation right after your vacation, especially when you have just had the most relaxing, magical, and well-deserved vacation. It can be hard to motivate yourself to throw yourself back into work and think about deadlines, emails, and clients. Unfortunately, all good times must come to an end, and your job can’t...

  In a perfect world, all employees would perform at a high level at all times. Yet, our world isn’t perfect. That’s not our reality. Every business owner will be faced with the challenge of how to motivate an underperforming employee. There’s a right way and a wrong way to deal with this problem. Even after seeing the signs of an underperforming employee, some leaders will...

If you are starting out in the clothing business it’s important to establish your target market from the beginning. Doing this accurately can help increase your profits, cut out unnecessary expenditures, and get your business running efficiently from the beginning. The clothing business is a pretty crowded market, but that doesn’t mean that, with the proper research and marketing plan, you can’t bring something...

According to author Roy T. Bennet, “Happiness depends on your mindset.” I would argue that success in business does too. When we study business in school, the focus is on profit and loss accounts, SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis), and market research. In all of my years studying business, I don’t remember ever hearing the word mindset mentioned. And yet, in my...

Being an entrepreneur may seem like a golden path to riches, but in reality, it’s a hard journey that can be filled with stress and costly learning experiences. Entrepreneurs can use all the help they can get, so if you have a friend that is walking that path, it’s important to do all that you can to help them along the way. Your encouragement,...

Owning a coffee shop is like owning the heart of a community; it’s a place for everyone. Most everyone has a place they like to go for coffee, tea, or a snack. A place where they can go relax and maybe socialize. If you run or plan to start a coffee shop business, you need to stand out. One of the best ways to...

It is easy to identify those companies that have an amazing workplace culture. They’ve created environments that allow their teams to be focused, driven and innovative. Conversely, you won’t struggle to find those organizations that don’t have a positive culture. They often have high staff turnover, toxic leadership, and gossip and rumor run rampant. A negative culture is often one of the main causes of...

  Most everyone has a hobby that they love. Which is great because hobbies are important. They allow us to enjoy ourselves, use our creativity, pursue passions, and provide stress relief. However, many people do not realize how easy it can be to turn their hobby into a profitable venture. Even if it is just a side hustle. Although just about every hobby has...

Have you ever considered how your employees perceive your business? Are they proud to tell others where they work? You may have considered the best ways for hiring and recruiting new staff, but what happens after that? How do you ensure your employees maintain a positive perception of your business? Low employee engagement is an increasingly prevalent problem. Across all industries, more workers are...

We all know the importance of setting good financial goals for your business. Making a profit and decreasing expenses is at the top of your to-do list. These types of goals are usually the focus of new businesses. As they should be. Financial goals help to drive the business and keep the doors open. But financial goals aren’t the only goals that you need. Focusing...

The Internet is littered with job ads. From both employers and agencies. And, when you come to hire someone, it seems like everyone else is looking for the same thing: a really good employee that helps the business grow. But before you can hire the right employee, you need to post the right job ad. So what can you do to ensure your job...

There are things more satisfying for a business owner, manager, or entrepreneur than having a team of employees that work efficiently and harmoniously together. When every member of your team is meeting their goals, the business grows and makes your life easier. However, when a team has one of more underperforming employees, it can derail your business goals. No matter the cause, when an...

When it comes to productivity apps, we have a plethora of suggestions. However, everyone’s needs and requirements are different. Apps that work for you may not work for someone else. In addition, some of us require a little extra motivation to complete our tasks. Productivity is crucial for everyone. However, for entrepreneurs and business owners, productivity is a must. Sometimes a person can increase...

When there are differing opinions in the workplace, conflicts can arise. The majority of employees report experiencing conflict at work.  A third of those conflicts are reported to be constant. Conflict isn’t always bad because it often leads to creative solutions, facilitates new ideas, and challenges the status quo. If conflict goes unchecked, it will become counterproductive and corrupt team dynamics.  Investing in conflict...

No matter what type of online business you choose to run, how you get the word out is important. How you market your online business is just as important as the business itself. Keeping up with the constant movement of today’s technology can be tricky, but it’s far from impossible. With the right marketing tactics, perseverance and consistency, you can make the most out of marketing...

Having a skill, something you enjoy doing, is a great first step towards becoming a freelancer. An online freelancer is a type of online business where a person can freelance their skills to individuals and businesses. Freelancing, in general is very common in a number of fields. However, an online freelancer runs their entire business online without necessarily having to meet clients face-to-face. Because...

Along with making your first sale or landing your first customer or client, one of the most exciting milestones for a new startup is hiring your first employee. Finally, someone other than the founders will be joining you. Helping to make the dream of your future success a reality by putting in the hours and hard work to realize your goals. However, the importance of...

  Every entrepreneur wants to find great employees that will help them grow the business. However, as many leaders know, good employees can be hard to find. When you do find the employees you were seeking, managing them is another task. Although there are many productivity tracking tools available, it is still sometimes difficult to truly evaluate a team member’s output and contribution to the...

Shark Tank has been providing inspiration and confidence for entrepreneurs since 2009. Since that time, Shark Tank has given the opportunity for entrepreneurs to realize their business dreams. It has also given millions of viewers an opportunity to see actual business negotiations in progress. The drama, storylines, successes and rejections that make up the show captivate us. These aspects are part of the reason...

  As an entrepreneur, you understand the importance of productivity. That is why increasing productivity should be a goal of any entrepreneur. Although there are many ways entrepreneurs can increase productivity, one of the easiest ways is to start as soon as you wake up. Your morning habits dictate how your day is going to be. Highly successful people know the secrets to morning rituals...

As one year draws to a close and a new year is birthed, it is only natural for businesses of all sizes to be focused on goal setting. Each new year ushers in endless possibilities for change, success, and a chance to set new goals for your business. While looking back and reflecting on your accomplishments from the past is a beautiful idea, and...

  When you’re aiming to start a business, sometimes the best inspiration stems from your own personal hobbies. Entrepreneurs with a deep passion for their industry have some key advantages over those who don’t. However, turning your hobby into a business isn’t for everyone. Not every personal hobby has to become an adventure in entrepreneurship, and some are better suited to “side-hustle” opportunities. Even...

  Productivity apps have become increasingly popular in recent years as technology has advanced and people have become more reliant on their devices to stay organized and manage their time effectively. This is especially true for entrepreneurs and business owners. For entrepreneurs, productivity is vital to the growth of our businesses. When time is wasted and tasks are not completed, it can not only...

  Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, accounting for over half of all private sector jobs. As such, business growth is essential for overall economic prosperity and for industries to remain competitive and stay ahead of the curve. However, before a small business can experience growth, it must establish a legal structure. A legal structure is a framework that governs the...

There is hardly a term in the working world that can elicit the emotions of fear, dread, and disdain faster than “Performance Review.” Most of today’s workforce endure the ever-so-popular “annual performance review,” while others receive the twice-as-frequent bi-annual review. Most startups, however, skip the evaluation process altogether, but is that wise? There was a time when I firmly believed the “no review” approach...

As an entrepreneur, manager, or business owner, one of your most important duties is to nurture employee loyalty. Loyal employees empathize with the company as a whole and regard the priorities of the business as their own. Furthermore, the more loyal your workers are, the more productive, efficient, and stable the work environment is for everyone. This, in turn, leads to better results, increased...

All consulting businesses are different and there are several types of consulting businesses a person can start. The type of consult you choose to become was probably based on your strengths and expertise in a particular area. However, it doesn’t matter how strong your consulting abilities are if nobody knows your services are available.  Although marketing for a consulting business may seem complicated, you...

We all can make mistakes when we’re starting our business. But, honestly, how can we blame ourselves? It is almost a given. Everybody needs to make mistakes to learn and grow for themselves. I am not saying that you can’t take advice from others before you begin. Inevitably you will make mistakes, but you may as well hit the ground running. An online freelancer...

It takes time to find qualified candidates, evaluate resumes, conduct interviews, and hire employees. More applicants than ever are available for jobs today, but many won’t be a good fit for your business. This raises the question of why it’s so difficult to locate qualified workers. After interviewing the qualified candidates, you choose the best candidate, but they swiftly reject you, leaving you perplexed and...

During the life of an entrepreneur or business owner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and feel like you’re falling behind. If you find yourself overwhelmed and unmotivated to get anything done, you might be in a productivity slump. Productivity slumps happen to all of us. Even when we do our best to try to prevent them. Sometimes our to-do lists become so long that...

If you’re thinking about starting a cleaning business, there are a number of things to consider about this business model. While being your own boss, choosing your clients, and setting your hours are all enticing aspects of running your own cleaning business, there are other aspects you should research prior to launching your venture, including competing businesses and the types of services they offer. ...

We are all different and our minds and bodies function differently. The terms “early bird” and “night owl” are not mere societal constructs or urban myths – essentially, you are either a morning or a night person and there is science to back up these claims (we will elaborate further on that below). An early bird is someone who feels alert, awake and productive...

Food trucks are reminiscent of the ice cream trucks from childhood, but food trucks are all grown up. Their cuisine can be simple or sophisticated. The average successful food truck can expect to generate between $20,000 to $45,000 a month.   Do you love food and being on the road? If so, starting a food truck may have crossed your mind. Food trucks have grown in popularity...

Loans have been around since humans first began using currency. But the financial industry as a whole has seen some groundbreaking developments in recent years. Just a few decades ago, the idea of getting an instant loan from a retailer while you’re online shopping was unheard of—but of course, online shopping was unheard of at this time as well. Today, various innovations and new...

  As a business owner, you probably already know that good employees are hard to find. That is why we value great employees for their productivity, performance, and commitment to their job. However, what happens when you have a great employee with a bad attitude? This is a situation any business owner, entrepreneur, or manager will experience at one point or another. Every workplace...

  Whether you are an entrepreneur or still working a job, when burnout hits, it can sometimes feel like there’s no end in sight to the exhaustion. There are often signs that a burnout is coming, however, many people miss the signals and have to find a way to deal with and recover from the event.   Entrepreneurs, managers, leaders, and key employees are more likely...

Entrepreneurs launch their businesses as a result of a need they’ve recognized in the market. They often establish their operations, build a customer base, and make a profit before they think about the type of business model that aligns best with their company. This is because as businesses grow, their owners will inevitably stop to reflect on what’s working and what isn’t to identify...

Have you ever been called a shutterbug? Do people rave over the photos you’ve taken? Perhaps you and your sweetheart share a love of photography—and you may have thought about turning this passion into a profit. Great photography can tell a story or show a unique perspective through images. If you have this skill, you have the opportunity to make a living doing what...

It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur. In the 2020’s entrepreneurs all over the world are running entire businesses with only their skills, talents, and their laptops. You may have the passion, work ethic, and skills to launch and run a successful business, but what about your hardware? If you want to grow your business in this competitive landscape, you must make sure...

Today, it seems like everyone is busy. There is so much need for multitasking, and technology sometimes makes it harder for us to focus on what is important. Everyone is in constant contact with each other, which can be both a good and bad thing for your productivity. Entrepreneurs and business owners, especially, have more on their plates than most. Not only do you...

Establishing and operating a startup is hard work. While we tend to associate startup work with a fast paced race to success, in reality startup work can become monotonous. There’s only so many hours you can spend coding, writing business plans, and contacting potential investors before your brain turns to soup. The day to day begins to feel like day after day and before...

You have probably heard about how Sweden debated instituting a six-hour workday with full-time pay and benefits. The hope was to save workers from the possible exploitation of longer hours and to make it easier for workers to achieve a positive work-life balance. In Sweden, the six-hour workday was tested out among nurses in an elderly care home in Gothenburg. The nurses reported that...

As a business owner, you probably think about how to keep your customers happy. It’s the secret to staying successful, right? You’re not wrong, but the whole picture doesn’t stop there. It’s true that keeping your customers happy is a necessity, but keeping your employees happy is also part of the equation.  The importance of employee happiness cannot be understated. Employee happiness is directly connected to...

Entrepreneur and business pioneer Jeff Bezos is known as one of the greatest entrepreneurs of all time. He is best known as the founder and CEO of the e-commerce company Amazon.com. Amazon’s business model revolutionized how consumers shop and buy products online. The company is now worth a whopping $863 billion.  Bezos is also the owner of The Washington Post and the founder of the space exploration...

Although they sound similar, business objectives and marketing objectives are far from the same. Both are important to understand when running a business, they both serve very unique roles. In this article, you’ll learn the difference, and how to feel confident setting them both. What is Marketing? Marketing is an umbrella term used to describe various techniques through which a business reaches and engages with...

Can you make mouth-watering sandwiches, crowd-pleasing croissants, or decadent desserts? If so, you might have already thought about starting a catering business. People turn to caterers to take an important task off their plate: cooking. Whether it’s preparing food for a birthday party, wedding, baby shower, or other important event, caterers ensure everyone is fed with great-tasting food. If you’ve decided to start a...

  Whether you are a freelance photographer, writer, or developer, having the freedom to work wherever and whenever you choose is one of the greatest perks of being self-employed.  Online freelance businesses have made it possible to operate a business online with ease.At the same time, being a freelancer comes with its own set of unique challenges.  Thankfully, there are a variety of tools...