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What Is Cloud Computing? Everything You Need To Know

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Cloud computing has revolutionized the way we manage and use technology, enabling businesses and individuals to access and store data and applications over the internet rather than on local servers or personal computers. This shift from traditional IT infrastructure to cloud-based solutions has transformed various industries by offering greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. According to Yahoo Finance, the global cloud computing market size is expected to grow from USD 445.3 billion in 2021 to USD 947.3 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.3%. This rapid growth underscores the increasing reliance on cloud technologies and their integral role in modern business and everyday life.

Types of Cloud Services

Cloud computing services generally fall into three main categories: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). Each serves different needs and provides distinct benefits.

1. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

SaaS delivers software applications over the internet, on a subscription basis. This means users don’t need to install or maintain software on their own devices. Instead, they access applications through a web browser. Common examples include email services like Gmail, customer relationship management (CRM) tools like Salesforce, and collaboration platforms like Microsoft Office 365. SaaS simplifies software management and reduces costs associated with purchasing, installing, and upgrading software.

2. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS).

PaaS provides a framework for developers to build, test, and deploy applications. It includes infrastructure, runtime environments, and development tools hosted by the cloud provider. PaaS is ideal for developers who want to focus on coding and application development without worrying about underlying hardware or operating systems. Examples include Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure. PaaS enhances productivity by offering pre-configured environments and reducing the need for manual setup.

3. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).

IaaS offers virtualized computing resources over the internet. It provides fundamental computing infrastructure such as servers, storage, and networking on a pay-as-you-go basis. Users can manage and control the operating systems, applications, and storage while the cloud provider handles the physical hardware. Popular IaaS examples are Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM Cloud. IaaS is highly scalable and flexible, making it suitable for businesses with fluctuating workloads.

Types of Cloud Deployments

Cloud deployments refer to the way cloud services are made available and managed. There are three primary types: public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud.

1. Public Cloud.

In a public cloud, services are offered over the internet and shared among multiple organizations. These clouds are operated by third-party providers who own and manage the infrastructure. Public clouds are cost-effective due to their shared resources and economies of scale. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. They are ideal for businesses looking for scalability and cost efficiency without the need for significant upfront investments.

2. Private Cloud.

Private clouds are dedicated to a single organization, providing more control over data, security, and compliance. The infrastructure can be hosted either on-premises or by a third-party provider. Private clouds are suitable for organizations with strict data security requirements or those needing customized solutions. They offer enhanced security and control but come with higher costs compared to public clouds.

3. Hybrid Cloud.

A hybrid cloud combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. This approach provides greater flexibility and optimization of existing infrastructure. For instance, a business might use a private cloud for sensitive data and a public cloud for less critical applications. Hybrid clouds offer the benefits of both deployment models, balancing cost, performance, and security.

Cloud Computing Examples

Cloud computing has permeated various aspects of daily life and business operations. Here are a few common examples:

  • Email: Services like Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail operate on cloud infrastructure, offering users easy access to their emails from any device with internet connectivity.
  • Credit/Debit Cards: Payment processing systems leverage cloud computing to handle transactions securely and efficiently, providing real-time processing and fraud detection.

Leading Cloud Computing Companies

Several major companies lead the cloud computing industry, each offering a range of services and solutions:

1. CloudSpace.

CloudSpace is a notable player in the cloud computing industry, offering a variety of cloud services including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS in Houston Texas. Their solutions cater to both small businesses and large enterprises, providing flexible and scalable cloud infrastructure.

2. Microsoft.

Microsoft is a major force in cloud computing with its Azure platform. Azure offers a wide range of cloud services, from virtual machines and storage to advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. Microsoft’s cloud solutions are known for their integration with other Microsoft products and services.

3. Amazon.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading cloud provider known for its extensive array of services. AWS provides computing power, storage options, and advanced features like machine learning and data analytics. AWS is popular for its reliability, scalability, and global reach.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing offers numerous advantages, making it an attractive option for businesses and individuals:

  • Flexible Costs: Cloud computing typically follows a pay-as-you-go model, allowing users to pay only for the resources they use. This flexibility helps organizations manage their budgets more effectively and avoid large upfront investments.
  • Improved Mobility: Cloud services enable access to applications and data from any device with internet connectivity. This mobility supports remote work, enhances productivity, and facilitates collaboration across different locations.
  • Increased Collaboration: Cloud platforms often include collaboration tools that allow multiple users to work on the same project simultaneously. This feature enhances teamwork and streamlines project management.
  • Economies of Scale: By sharing resources across many users, cloud providers can offer services at a lower cost compared to maintaining individual on-premises infrastructure. This results in cost savings for users and more efficient resource utilization.
  • Operational Efficiency: Cloud computing reduces the need for organizations to manage and maintain physical hardware. Providers handle infrastructure management, updates, and security, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities.

Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Despite its many benefits, cloud computing also has some drawbacks:

  • Downtime: Cloud services may experience outages or downtime due to technical issues or maintenance. This can disrupt business operations and impact productivity.
  • Security: Storing sensitive data on cloud servers raises concerns about data security and privacy. While cloud providers implement robust security measures, users must also take precautions to protect their data.
  • Limited Control: In a cloud environment, users have less control over the underlying infrastructure compared to on-premises systems. This can be a concern for organizations with specific customization or compliance requirements.

Future of Cloud Computing

The future of cloud computing looks promising, with ongoing advancements and emerging trends shaping the industry:

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Cloud providers are integrating AI and machine learning capabilities into their services, enabling more sophisticated data analysis and automation.
  • Edge Computing: As the Internet of Things (IoT) grows, edge computing—processing data closer to where it is generated—will become increasingly important. This approach can reduce latency and improve performance.
  • Quantum Computing: While still in its early stages, quantum computing holds the potential to revolutionize cloud computing by solving complex problems faster than traditional computers.
  • Enhanced Security Measures: As cyber threats evolve, cloud providers will continue to invest in advanced security technologies and protocols to protect data and maintain user trust.

Cloud computing has already transformed how we interact with technology, and its continued evolution promises even greater innovations and opportunities. By understanding its various types, benefits, and challenges, individuals and organizations can make informed decisions about leveraging cloud computing to meet their needs.

[Interview] Karim Allana, Founder And CEO Of Allana Buick & Bers (ABB)

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karim allana

karim allana

Karim Allana is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Allana Buick & Bers (ABB), a multidisciplinary construction firm that manages a vast array of new construction projects and remedial construction jobs across the United States. With over 40 years of experience in the construction industry, Mr. Allana is a civil engineer and sustainable construction expert, holding active engineering licenses in multiple states.

We recently sat down with Mr. Allana to learn more about his company, his industry, and his advice for others interested in the field.

Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Allana. To start, could you tell us a bit about your background and how you came to found Allana Buick & Bers?

Absolutely. I got started in the construction industry while I was studying Civil Engineering at Santa Clara University. While still a student, I gained practical experience working as a general laborer at Precision Roofing in San Jose. This hands-on work was instrumental in developing my interest in building enclosures. After graduating, I joined Turner Construction, where I further honed my skills. Eventually, I decided to establish my own firm, which has evolved into the Allana Buick & Bers (ABB) we know today.

What inspired you to transition from a small roofing services group to a large architectural engineering and construction management company?

The main motivation was to create a company that could provide comprehensive solutions to our clients. I identified a market need for a firm that could oversee projects from inception to completion, ensuring quality and sustainability throughout. By broadening our services to include building enclosure, HVAC systems, fire protection, and construction forensics, we could offer a seamless process for our clients, minimizing risks and enhancing building performance.

Can you share some key milestones in ABB’s history?

Certainly. A significant milestone was in 2005 when we rebranded as Allana Buick & Bers, Inc. This period marked rapid growth, with our team size doubling and the opening of new offices in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Today, we have over 225 employees and operate in 13 states and Mexico. Our projects cover various sectors, including institutional, government, industrial, healthcare, insurance, and multifamily residential.

What sets ABB apart from other firms in the industry?

Our dedication to sustainability and durability is a major differentiator. We aim to enhance building performance and longevity through high-quality construction, energy efficiency upgrades, and renewable energy system implementations. Also, our ability to manage projects from investigation and design to construction provides our clients with a single point of contact, ensuring their best interests are always prioritized.

How do you stay involved in the day-to-day operations of ABB?

Despite the company’s growth, I remain actively involved in our projects. I manage client relationships and personally oversee all aspects of our work, from engineering design and construction management to condition assessments and energy efficiency upgrades. This hands-on approach ensures that we maintain the high standards we are known for.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter the construction industry?

My advice would be to gain as much practical experience as possible. Understanding the hands-on aspects of construction is crucial. Additionally, always prioritize continuous learning and stay updated with the latest industry trends and technologies. Building a strong network and maintaining good relationships with clients and colleagues is also essential for long-term success.

What are your future plans for ABB?

We plan to continue expanding our services and geographic reach. Our focus will remain on sustainability and innovation, ensuring that we are at the forefront of the industry. We are also looking to further integrate renewable energy solutions into our projects, helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals.

We appreciate your time, Mr. Allana.

Thank you. It was my pleasure. 

 

5 Things That A Private Investigator Cannot Do

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If you have seen Magnum P.I., there is a chance you may have fallen into the stereotypical beliefs regarding what private investigators do. Movies propagate a lot of myths about PIs. This makes people forget that they aren’t above the law, aren’t allowed to look up people, gain unauthorized entry to places, and record people off guard. Depending on where you live, you also need to know about how the law works there and the jurisdiction. 

Some people want to know how to spy on your partner, and some want to find information on a potential employee, but is it legal? It is important to be clear on what private investigators can’t do, as some activities could be illegal, unethical, and inexcusable.

So in this article, we will shed light on what PIs cannot do. Read on.

1. Access to Educational, Financial, or Medical Records.

For any private investigator, being exposed to a volume of information is expected. However, some information is under protection by the federal government. This, of course, applies to your medical records protected under HIPAA, educational records under FERPA, and of course, your financial records. Beware that if a private investigator claims to have access to this type of information, they are either lying or, worse, committing a felony. Either way, it is recommended that you stay away to avoid implicating yourself. 

2. Recordings.

Have you had your voice recorded without your permission? Are you unsure whether it is legal or not? Well, it isn’t. Private investigators are not allowed to record phone conversations without asking for permission. There are states where, in fact, both parties must consent to the recordings. Although phone tapping is quite possible, it is illegal to do so without a warrant, and these are, in most cases, only authorized by law enforcement.

3. Trespassing.

This is a clear violation of property laws that everyone must abide by. This means a private investigator does not have the authority to go into someone’s vehicle or office to gather incriminating information on them. Setting foot on another person’s property is already illegal and so is setting up secret cameras to acquire footage. You are entitled to your privacy when you are on your property.

4. License Plates and Social Security Numbers.

This one has many confusions as there is a gray area. While private investigators can access your vehicle plate and social security numbers, they can only do so with valid reasons. These types of information are deemed private and, hence, not easily accessed unless under strict regulation. Among the reasons you would be rightfully handed this type of information include serving someone or confirmation for a certain vehicle belonging to a defendant. 

5. Identifying as Law Enforcers.

The stereotypes we have seen in movies and television have pushed us to believe that private investigators have the same power as the police. While there are certain exceptions, this is not entirely true. Private investigators are equally bound by the same restrictions and laws as everyone else. 

Identifying as law enforcement is not allowed, nor is dressing up as law enforcement or carrying their badges to get people to comply with their demands. It is important to note that private investigators have as many rights as any citizen; this means in states like California, they can make a citizen’s arrest. Private investigators can also carry firearms either openly or concealed, but they must have the proper papers from the necessary government agency. 

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped shed some light on what is within private investigators’ rights and what isn’t. Remember that laws vary from state to state, but there are certain things we have mentioned that are illegal everywhere. It is important to be aware of them and keep away from private investigators who engage in them to avoid legal issues.

 

Bridging The Divide: Gen Z And Baby Boomers Can Face Generational Workplace Challenges Together

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by Richard Birke, Chief Architect, JAMS Pathways

Given current demographic trends, most notably the fact that workers enter the professional workforce at an increasingly young age, plus retirement age and life span have increased, there are ever-larger gaps between the most senior and most junior members of the workforce.

Age gaps need not be a recipe for poor productivity. In fact, the various books and articles that have been published on the topic of negotiation are rife with examples of how value-creation is rooted in differences. Different forecasts – you think it’s going to rain, I don’t – my umbrella is worth more to you than to me. Different preferences – you like fruit and I like veggies – let’s trade my apple for your squash. Different skills and abilities – let’s assign tasks according to who is better suited for the job.

As a 25-year veteran of the classroom (I was a tenured law professor who taught dispute resolution), I saw a great many wonderful collaborations between students and faculty, between interns and government employees, between judges and their clerks. Crossing age boundaries gracefully allows more experienced employees to mentor younger ones and for younger employees to bring new information and skills to bear so that more senior employees can stay fresh.

Unfortunately, there have also been many documented instances of senior leaders mismatching management styles with junior colleagues. It’s natural for some of the most experienced employees to have moved up in the org chart over their tenure with an organization while less experienced ones come in closer to the bottom of that chart. Thus, we often see Boomers managing Gen Z employees (and lots of other similar gaps). In a bad match, the Boomer likes formal emails, enjoys reading reports on paper, likes extended in-person meetings – and maybe even wears an analog watch. In this bad match, the Gen Z employee prefers texts, digital summaries, short meetings (preferably virtual) and probably uses their phone as their watch.

Style is irrelevant until the mission at work suffers. Then, the formal/informal dichotomy may bleed over into a lack of trust. The supervisor mistakes an informal communication preference with a lack of work ethic or a lack of precision regarding final work product, and then gives the junior uncomplicated, unchallenging tasks and a commensurately slow path to advancement. The junior feels devalued and may “quiet quit” or mentally check out. “Task conflict” transforms into “relationship conflict” and that negatively impacts the workplace and its inhabitants.

Where might age gaps be the most challenging? In high stress professions that have moved to virtual platforms to do much of their business, the opportunity to form mentorship relationships has decreased. We see this primarily in the practice of law, medicine, financial services and highly technical service industries. However, we’ve also observed generational friction in more hands-on situations like the construction trades.

Where are age gaps more seamless? While not insulated from cross-gen problems, academia, the judiciary (via clerkships), and other professions that enjoy a robust entry of newbies every year seem to have learned some important lessons about how to adapt to the constantly changing needs of successive generations.

There are three helpful tips for any manager facing generational challenges in the workplace:

1. Start learning.

There are a great many books, videos and courses devoted to understanding the role of multi-generational workforces. But the learning shouldn’t be confined to multi-generational work. It’s also very useful to learn about difficult conversations, cross-cultural communications, interest-based negotiation and other skills related to problem solving. Many managers are promoted from a “line-level” position to management without having an adequate opportunity to amend and enlarge their skill set. Managing people is a distinct set of skills and excellence “on the line” is not a recipe for unmitigated success as a supervisor.

2. Communicate.

Convene meetings of the team in which you discuss how to communicate most effectively with each other. Learn about your own preferences and make sure that form doesn’t overshadow substance. Set an example of how to communicate about your own preferences that doesn’t require others to abandon the style of communication that is most effective for them. Focus on psychological safety so that people with different approaches feel comfortable sharing with peers, supervisors and subordinates even when the supervisor isn’t present.

3. Leverage outside resources to workshop the issue.

When faced with hard workplace problems, consider hiring experienced professionals who do nothing but facilitate communications around hard workplace issues. If you think “we should be able to do this ourselves,” ask yourself if a professional painter might do the work quicker or better (or both). I’m guessing most leaders hire pros for taxes, medical care and internet security. Why not hire conflict resolution specialists too?

The opportunities and challenges associated with a workforce that is increasingly age-diverse are many. And no matter when you find yourself on the age/experience spectrum, you can play a role in finding and highlighting the value-creating opportunities and minimizing or eliminating unproductive friction.

 

richard birke

Richard Birke is the chief architect of JAMS Pathways and is experienced at resolving complex, multiparty disputes. With over 35 years of hands-on dispute resolution, he draws on experience in a wide range of disciplines, including mediation, psychology, economics, law, communications, negotiation theory, strategic behavior, and diversity, equity and inclusion, to apply the right tools to every client situation.

Can An Employer Of Record (EOR) Help Your Company Save Costs On International Hiring?

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resume

resume

Increasing the size of your workforce abroad can be a calculated strategic decision in today’s globalised business environment to gain access to top talent. On the other hand, handling the legal requirements, payroll, and benefits administration involved in international hiring can be difficult and costly.

This is where a global Employer of Record (EOR) can offer significant cost savings for your company.

What is an EOR?

Your international workforce’s legal employer is a third-party organisation called an EOR. They take care of all the HR, payroll, tax, and compliance duties to meet your hiring needs so you can concentrate on running and growing your business.

How Can an EOR Save You Money?

  1. Eliminates the Need for Setting Up Legal Entities: Establishing a legal entity in a foreign country can be a lengthy and costly process. By taking on the associated costs and administrative burden and functioning as the legal employer, EORs eliminate this need.
  2. Reduces HR and Payroll Costs: Managing HR and payroll for international employees can be complex due to varying labor laws, tax regulations, and benefits requirements. EORs manage all of these facets, sparing you the expense of employing in-house HR and payroll personnel or contracting out these functions.
  3. Mitigates Risks and Costs of Misclassification: Misclassifying employees can lead to legal disputes, fines, and reputational damage. EORs guarantee accurate categorization, reducing these risks and related expenses.
  4. Provides Cost-Effective Benefits Solutions: EORs often have access to group benefits plans that are more affordable than individual plans, allowing you to offer competitive benefits to your international employees without breaking the bank.
  5. Streamlines Recruitment and Onboarding Processes: EORs can help streamline the recruitment and onboarding processes, saving you time and resources. This allows you to quickly bring new employees onboard and start realizing their value.
  6. Negotiates Competitive Rates: EORs often have established relationships with local vendors and service providers, allowing them to negotiate better rates for their clients on various services, such as office space, equipment, and software.
  7. Provides Local Expertise: EORs have local expertise in the countries where they operate, which can help you avoid costly mistakes and navigate cultural differences. This can lead to better decision-making and more efficient operations.

Is an EOR Right for Your Company?

While EORs offer numerous cost-saving advantages, they may not be the right solution for every company. Consider the following factors:

  • Size of Your Company: EORs are generally a good fit for small to medium-sized businesses that lack the resources to establish their own legal entities abroad. Equally, EORs are great for both startups and multinational companies venturing into new markets.
  • Number of International Employees: If you have a small number of international employees, the cost of using an EOR may not be justified.
  • Industry and Location: The cost of using an EOR can vary depending on the industry and location of your international employees.

Conclusion

An EOR can be a useful partner in helping you cut costs and manage the challenges of hiring people internationally if you are looking to grow your workforce abroad. By carefully considering your company’s needs and choosing the right EOR provider, you can get the benefits of a global workforce, working across different time zones around the clock, while minimising risks and maximising cost savings.

Redefining Success

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by Stu Crum, author of “AIM FOR THE UPRIGHTS: The Intentional Playbook for Success in Faith, Family, and Business“

What is success? According to Merriam-Webster, success is a “favorable or desired outcome; also, the attainment of wealth, favor or eminence. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, success is the achieving of the results wanted or hoped for; something that achieves positive results; someone or something that becomes popular, wealthy, or has achieved a lot.

While all of these definitions may be true, I believe that achieving success without compromising your values is a more important goal and a crucial aspect of living a fulfilling and meaningful life. In today’s fast-paced, sometimes win-at-all-costs world, it can be easy to get caught up in the pursuit of material wealth, status, and recognition at the expense of our core principles and beliefs. However, true success is not just about achieving external markers of accomplishment; it also involves staying true to ourselves, our values, our friends, and our family.

Cherish What Truly Matters

One way to redefine success without compromising your values is to take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you. This may involve identifying your core values, such as honesty, integrity, character, compassion, and authenticity, and considering how these values align with your goals and aspirations. Are you forthright in your communication with others? Do you show compassion by listening, engaging, showing appreciation, and serving others? Do you honor  your commitments to yourself, your colleagues, your friends, and your family? Are you trustworthy?

By clarifying your values and priorities, you can ensure that your definition of success is grounded in what is most important to you, rather than what society or others may expect of you.

Learn When to Say No

Another important aspect of redefining success without compromising your values is learning to set boundaries and make conscious choices that align with your principles. This may involve saying no to opportunities or situations that conflict with your values, even if they promise wealth, recognition, or advancement. By prioritizing your values over external rewards, you can maintain your integrity and authenticity in all areas of your life.

Share the Rewards

Redefining success without compromising your values requires a shift in mindset from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality. Instead of believing that success is limited and competitive, embrace the idea that there is enough success and prosperity to go around for everyone. By cultivating a mindset of abundance, you can collaborate with others, support their success, and celebrate their achievements without feeling threatened or envious.

Reframe Failure

Redefining success without compromising your values involves accepting and embracing failure as a natural part of the journey toward success. Instead of viewing failure as a reflection of your worth or abilities, see it as an opportunity for growth, learning, and self-discovery. By reframing your relationship with failure, you can approach challenges with resilience, perseverance, and a growth mindset, ultimately leading to greater success and fulfillment in the long run.

Believe in Yourself

Redefining success without compromising your values is essential for living a purposeful and authentic life. By clarifying your values, setting boundaries, embracing abundance, and reframing failure, you can create a definition of success that is aligned with who you are and what you believe in. Ultimately, true success is not about sacrificing your values for external rewards; it is about living in harmony with your principles and making a positive impact on the world around you.

I have said it once and I will say it until I die… Character and integrity matters!!

 

Stu Crum

Stu Crum’s college football heroics put him on the national radar as a model student-athlete. Tagged as a winner with a natural gift for leadership, he made his name internationally in key positions with Texaco, Shell Oil, Jiffy Lube, and Bridgestone. Developing a simple, dynamic game plan that he calls intentional living, Crum lays out his playbook for success in faith, family, and business in his new book, “AIM FOR THE UPRIGHTS: The Intentional Playbook for Success in Faith, Family, and Business” (July 9, 2024). Learn more at www.stucrum.com.

 

Creating A Clear Brand Vision And Mission: Practical Steps For Startup Founders

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by Kristin Marquet, founder and creative director of Marquet Media

Defining your brand’s vision and mission is essential for building a robust and sustainable business. These guiding principles provide direction, inspire your team, and communicate your brand’s values to customers. A vision and mission can also help navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and align your business with its core purpose.

This article outlines practical steps and exercises to help you effectively clarify and articulate your brand’s vision and mission.

Understanding Vision and Mission

Your vision is a future-oriented declaration of your company’s purpose and aspirations, providing an image of what growth and success look like in the long term. It should be inspiring and set a high standard for your business to strive towards. On the other hand, your mission is a statement of your company’s core purpose and focus that remains unchanged over time. It explains why your company exists and what it aims to achieve daily.

Understanding these distinctions enables you to craft meaningful statements that accurately reflect your business goals and values.

Reflecting on Personal Values and Goals

Your brand’s vision and mission should align with your values and long-term goals. Begin this process by reflecting on what motivated you to start your business. Consider your core values and beliefs, the impact you want to make on your industry, community, and the world, and where you see yourself and your business in the future. Write down your answers to these questions to ensure that your brand’s vision and mission are authentic and aligned with your aspirations.

This self-reflection will help provide a solid foundation for your business, ensuring that your guiding principles are rooted in genuine motivations.

Analyzing the Market and Competitors

Understanding your market and competitors can provide valuable insights into crafting a unique and compelling vision and mission. Conduct a thorough analysis by identifying key trends and changes in your industry. Study your competitors’ vision and mission statements to identify gaps and opportunities.

Additionally, understand your target audience’s needs, desires, and pain points. This analysis will help you determine what differentiates your brand and how you can position yourself uniquely in the market.

By understanding the competitive landscape and your audience’s needs, you can create vision and mission statements that resonate and stand out.

Defining Your Brand’s Core Purpose

Your brand’s core purpose is the fundamental reason your business exists beyond making a profit. To define your core purpose, consider your business’s value to customers, how your product or service offers a solution, enhances your customers’ lives, and the positive change you want to create in your industry or community. Write a short, impactful statement that captures the essence of your brand’s core purpose. For example, “To empower small businesses with innovative marketing solutions that drive growth and success.”

This statement should be concise and powerful, reflecting the heart of your business and its role in the world.

Crafting Your Vision Statement

With your core purpose in mind, start crafting your vision statement. A compelling vision statement should be inspirational, aspirational, and clear and concise. Gather your team and brainstorm answers to prompts such as what your business looks like in the future, what achievements would make you proud, and how you want to be perceived by your customers and the industry.

Combine the most compelling ideas into a single, concise vision statement. For instance, “To be the leading provider of eco-friendly packaging solutions that revolutionize the industry and contribute to a sustainable future.” This statement should motivate and guide your team towards a common goal.

Developing Your Mission Statement

Your mission statement should articulate what your company does, who it serves, and how it does it. A strong mission statement is purposeful, customer-focused, and action-oriented. Create a draft mission statement by filling in the blanks: Our company exists to _______ (purpose), we serve _______ (target audience), we provide _______ (products/services), and we achieve this by _______ (unique approach or method). For example, “Our company exists to promote healthy living. We serve health-conscious individuals by providing organic, nutritious food products. We achieve this by sourcing the highest quality ingredients and maintaining rigorous standards of quality.”

This statement should communicate your business’s primary objectives and the unique value you offer your customers.

Testing and Refining Your Statements

Once you have draft versions of your vision and mission statements, test them with your team, stakeholders, and a sample of your target audience. Gather feedback to ensure your statements resonate with all key stakeholders and accurately reflect your brand’s identity.

Organize a feedback session and ask questions about the emotions the statements evoke, their clarity, and how they are perceived. This feedback will help you refine your statements, making necessary adjustments to ensure they are impactful and aligned with your business’s values and goals. Incorporating diverse perspectives will strengthen your vision and mission, making them more robust and effective.

Communicating and Embedding Your Vision and Mission

Your vision and mission statements should be prominently communicated and embedded in your company culture and operations. Share the organization’s vision and mission with your team, incorporating them into onboarding processes, training programs, and performance evaluations. Display your vision and mission on your website, marketing materials, and social media profiles to ensure visibility to customers, partners, and other stakeholders. Use your vision and mission to guide strategic decisions, from product development to marketing campaigns. This integration ensures that your guiding principles are consistently reinforced and aligned with all aspects of your business operations.

Reviewing and Revising Periodically

Your vision and mission should evolve as your business grows and the market changes. Set aside time to review each to ensure you remain relevant and aligned with your company’s direction. Set a date for an annual review of your vision and mission statements, evaluating their relevance, effectiveness, and impact. Make necessary revisions to reflect new insights, goals, and market dynamics. This ongoing process ensures that your guiding principles stay current and continue to drive your business forward. Regular reviews will help keep your business adaptable and aligned with its core values and objectives.

Defining your brand’s vision and mission is critical in building a successful and sustainable business. Following these practical steps, you can create compelling statements that inspire your team, resonate with your customers, and guide your strategic decisions. Remember, a clear and authentic vision and mission are potent tools that can propel your business toward long-term success. Through self-reflection, market analysis, and continuous refinement, you can ensure that your vision and mission are effective, relevant, and aligned with your business’s goals and values.

 

Kristin Marquet

Kristin Marquet is the founder and creative director of Marquet Media, an award-winning PR and branding firm established in 2009. With over a decade of experience in the industry, she has helped countless startups and established businesses develop compelling brand identities and successful PR strategies.

 

3 Tips For Reducing Your Business Gas Costs

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Managing energy expenses is crucial for any business looking to maximize profitability and reduce operational costs. Gas costs, in particular, can significantly impact the bottom line. Luckily, there are practical and effective strategies to help you reduce these expenses.

Here are three tips to get you started.

Tip 1: Conduct a Comprehensive Energy Audit

What is an Energy Audit?

An energy audit is a thorough examination of your business’s energy use, identifying where and how energy is being consumed and highlighting opportunities for cost savings. Think of it as a financial health check-up for your energy consumption.

Benefits of an Energy Audit

Conducting an energy audit can uncover hidden inefficiencies that, when corrected, lead to substantial savings. It provides a roadmap to optimize energy usage, ensuring that your business only uses what it needs. For more information on optimizing both electricity and gas usage for your business, visit Business Energy.

How to Perform an Energy Audit

DIY vs Professional Audits

You can choose to conduct a basic energy audit yourself or hire a professional. A DIY audit involves checking your gas bills, inspecting equipment, and identifying areas where gas is used excessively. However, a professional audit goes deeper, using specialised tools and expertise to uncover issues that might not be apparent to the untrained eye.

Case Study: Successful Energy Audits

For instance, a small manufacturing firm in the UK saved over 20% on their gas bills by conducting a professional energy audit. The audit revealed that their aging boiler was consuming much more gas than necessary, leading to an upgrade that paid for itself in savings within two years.

Tip 2: Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Equipment

The Impact of Outdated Equipment on Gas Costs

Old, inefficient equipment can be a significant drain on your resources. Outdated boilers, water heaters, and other gas-powered appliances consume more energy than their modern, energy-efficient counterparts.

Types of Energy-Efficient Equipment

Boilers

Modern boilers are designed to be much more efficient, converting more of the gas they consume into heat.

Water Heaters

Similarly, newer water heaters can drastically reduce energy consumption, especially in businesses that require a significant amount of hot water.

Financial Incentives for Upgrading

Upgrading to energy-efficient equipment might seem costly upfront, but numerous financial incentives can offset these expenses. Government grants, tax rebates, and utility company incentives can significantly reduce the initial investment.

Real-World Examples of Cost Savings

Consider a restaurant that upgraded its old gas oven to an energy-efficient model. The new equipment not only reduced their gas bill by 15% but also improved cooking times and food quality, leading to higher customer satisfaction.

Tip 3: Implement Behavioural Changes and Best Practices

Encouraging Energy-Saving Habits Among Employees

Your employees play a crucial role in managing energy consumption. Simple behavioural changes, such as turning off equipment when not in use and reporting any malfunctions promptly, can make a big difference.

Best Practices for Reducing Gas Usage

Regular Maintenance

Keeping your equipment in top condition ensures it operates efficiently. Regular maintenance checks can prevent small issues from becoming big problems.

Optimal Thermostat Settings

Setting your thermostat to the optimal temperature can reduce gas usage significantly. Avoiding extreme temperatures can save energy while maintaining a comfortable environment.

Training and Awareness Programs

Educating your staff about the importance of energy conservation and providing them with the tools and knowledge to implement these practices can lead to substantial savings.

Success Stories from Businesses

A local office building managed to cut its gas consumption by 10% simply by implementing a comprehensive staff training program on energy conservation. The program included workshops, informational posters, and regular reminders about best practices.

Reducing your business gas costs is not only beneficial for your bottom line but also for the environment. By conducting a comprehensive energy audit, upgrading to energy-efficient equipment, and implementing behavioural changes and best practices, you can achieve significant savings.

Start with these tips today and watch your energy bills shrink!

 

[Photo credit: Vladimir Srajber]

Outsourcing Hiring and Employee Management With EOR Services

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Many companies and entrepreneurs decide to enter markets in other countries to scale their business and increase profits. In this case, expanding markets for goods or services is possible by increasing the customer base. When running a global company, you must resolve several organizational issues, including employing employees and maintaining accounting and tax records. Many foreign companies decide to enter into an agreement with an outsourcing employer to optimize time and labor costs.

One of the reasons why EOR services is becoming increasingly popular is the power to save time at the initial stage. When getting an outsourcing company, you are not required to register a legal entity, which takes time. This speeds up recruiting workers and executing projects since new personnel can start performing their primary duties within 2 to 3 days. At the same time, legal provisions are observed.

What is EOR?

Employer Of Record is a company that officially operates staffers of another employer.

The EOR becomes the legal employer for employees performing for another organization and assumes all risks and responsibilities for primary and day-to-day employment aspects and other ancillary tasks, such as processing payroll into local bank accounts.

What are the benefits of using EOR?

Given the wide range of EOR services, it is easy to see the benefits of choosing this option to speed up and simplify international employment.

Here’s a detailed overview of the benefits of using EOR:

  • There is no need to create multiple legal entities to hire employees from all over the world.

If you plan to hire employees in multiple countries or don’t want to set up your own company in a specific country, EOR allows you to hire employees quickly and easily. This makes attracting global talent and exploring new business opportunities much more accessible.

  • Access to local experts on tax laws and regulations.

With local EOR expertise, your company can focus on its core business functions without worrying about compliance and administration. The EOR’s job is to navigate all the complex and unfamiliar tax and employment landscapes, not yours.

  • Complete understanding of local legal benefits.

With EOR, your business won’t have to worry about meeting its benefit obligations, such as paid time off, health care, and pension contributions. EOR handles everything.

  • Fast adaptation of new employees.

EORs facilitate the rapid onboarding of new employees by handling administrative tasks such as employment contracts and payroll. Your company can hire new talent quickly and efficiently, even in unfamiliar markets.

When should you use EOR?

There are several situations when it makes sense to work with EOR:

  • If you do not want to create a new legal entity.

Setting up a local legal entity can be costly and time-consuming. In some countries, this can take several months (or longer) and cost over $100,000. If it doesn’t make financial sense for your business, EOR is a simple and cost-effective solution for hiring foreign workers quickly and easily. You can hire employees ready to work within days for a simple flat fee per employee.

  • You need to hire foreign workers to work without a contract.

Although international contractors can be used, not all work can be classified as contract work. Incorrectly classifying employees as contractors can have serious consequences, such as fines and penalties. In these cases, EOR is an excellent choice.

  • When an existing employee moves.

As remote work becomes more common, employees are less tied to one physical location. Today, workers can move freely worldwide without giving up their jobs. EOR is a quick and easy way to retain employees who decide to relocate. With EOR, you can even hire digital nomads moving from country to country.

 

The Rise Of Side-Hustles: Entrepreneurship In Today’s Economy

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by Joshua Jones, Chief Revenue Officer of Kapitus

In the wake of unprecedented global challenges, the landscape of entrepreneurship in the United States has undergone a remarkable transformation. The surge in new business formations witnessed in recent years, as highlighted by the U.S. Census Bureau, speaks volumes about the evolving entrepreneurial spirit in the nation. The total number of businesses started in 2023 represents a 56.7% increase over 2019. But what lies behind this rise, and what does it mean for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating today’s market environment?

The catalyst for this surge in new business creation can be traced back to the tumultuous period of the pandemic. As people found themselves confined to their homes, either working remotely or grappling with unemployment, a paradigm shift occurred. The reevaluation of lives and careers led many individuals to explore alternative avenues for income generation. The need for innovative solutions, from PPE to remote tutoring, created fertile ground for excited entrepreneurs to step forward and fill the gaps in the market.

What distinguishes this surge from previous spikes in entrepreneurial activity is its sustainability. While the initial surge may have been born out of necessity during the pandemic, the continuation of elevated levels of new business formation indicates a fundamental shift in mindset. Americans have embraced what can be termed as the “art of the side-hustle,” integrating it as a standard component of their economic equation.

For prospective entrepreneurs navigating today’s market environment, strategic considerations are paramount. Starting small and validating ideas as side-gigs offers a low-risk pathway to entrepreneurship. One of the key advantages of a side hustle is its ability to allow the owner to continue making money in their main job, creating a safety net while exploring entrepreneurial ventures. This dual-income approach significantly mitigates financial risk, as the initial income from the side hustle can be reinvested back into the business until it reaches a benchmarked level of sustainability. Unlike traditional startups that often require founders to leverage their savings or take out loans to cover living expenses, a side hustle can be nurtured and grown organically without the pressure of immediate profitability.

The internet economy has played a pivotal role in democratizing entrepreneurship, offering unprecedented avenues for individuals to create and scale their businesses. Platforms like Amazon Marketplace, eBay, and Etsy have revolutionized commerce, empowering individuals to become sellers with minimal barriers to entry. Furthermore, freelance marketplaces such as Fiverr and Upwork have unlocked opportunities for professionals to monetize their skills on a global scale.

The popularity of platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, TaskRabbit, and Thumbtack has further expanded the horizons of entrepreneurship. Homeowners can now become rental hosts, while contractors and laborers can leverage their skills on gig platforms to supplement their income. This convergence of technology and entrepreneurship has unleashed a wave of innovation, fueling the rise of side hustles across diverse industries.

Examining the industries witnessing the most significant lift from new business starts provides valuable insights into emerging trends:

  • Healthcare, propelled by an aging population and the demand for personalized home-health solutions, stands out as a frontrunner.
  • The construction sector is experiencing robust growth, driven by the pressing need for new housing and refurbishment projects.
  • Professional services- including IT, accounting, and design, are also witnessing a surge, fueled by the proliferation of side hustles evolving into full-fledged businesses.
  • Education, as mentioned before, particularly online tutoring and instruction, represents another sector ripe with entrepreneurial opportunities.

Embracing flexibility and agility, rather than fixating on perfect plans, is essential for navigating the uncertainties of entrepreneurship. The dynamic nature of the business landscape requires entrepreneurs to remain adaptable and responsive to changing market conditions. By maintaining a mindset of experimentation and iteration, individuals can continuously refine their strategies and offerings, positioning their side hustle for long-term success.

Looking ahead, the future of entrepreneurship in the U.S. appears promising. A vibrant startup culture combined with the transformative power of the internet bodes well for continued innovation and growth. As more individuals recognize the potential of side hustles as vehicles for financial independence and personal fulfillment, the entrepreneurial landscape is poised for further evolution.

The rise of side-hustles reflects a broader cultural shift towards embracing entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Whether it’s to achieve financial goals, gain more flexibility in your schedule, or pursue a passion, clarifying your underlying motivations can provide a guiding light throughout the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. With the democratization of access to resources and opportunities, aspiring entrepreneurs have unprecedented avenues for realizing their dreams. By harnessing technology, exploiting your natural creativity, and embracing a mindset of resilience, individuals can navigate the complexities of today’s economy and carve out their own paths to success. Even the best businesses sometimes fail, it’s important that you’re able to dedicate yourself to your business’ success and never stop trying even if this one fails.

 

Josh Jones

Josh Jones is Chief Revenue Officer at Kapitus, one of the most reliable and respected names in small business financing. Kapitus provides growth capital to small businesses and has provided over $5.5 billion to over 50,000 small businesses since 2006. Kapitus offers multiple loan products to small businesses, including SBA loans, revenue-based financing, equipment financing, cash-flow based factoring, revolving lines of credit and invoice factoring.

 

[Interview] Stu Crum, Author-Expert On Intentional Living

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Stu Crum and book

Stu Crum and book

The concept of intentional living inherently helps individuals live balanced, well-rounded lives in the face of life’s mounting demands. While we cannot know every challenge people may be facing, in his new book, “AIM FOR THE UPRIGHTS: The Intentional Playbook for Success in Faith, Family, and Business“, former football hero Stu Crum reveals his simple yet profound playbook, with messages for men and women from all walks of life and at every turn in the road.

Tagged as a winner with a natural gift for leadership, Crum made his name internationally in key positions with Texaco, Shell Oil, Jiffy Lube, and Bridgestone, wrangling deals with the likes of activist investor Carl Icahn and other heavy hitters. Yet beneath the surface lay a deeper man. Despite personal setbacks and injury-laden stints with the NFL and USFL, Crum blossomed at every turn by developing a simple, dynamic game plan for ultimate success in business, family, faith, and fun, that put his every aspiration within reach. Learn more at www.stucrum.com.

Crum recently sat down with Young Upstarts to discuss his book, his principles to live by, and more.

For someone still early on their career path, what would you say are the most important things to keep in mind to aim for success? 

 You should be very intentional/thoughtful about what you are trying to accomplish (your purpose). As an example, at an early age (25), I knew that I wanted to be a CEO someday. Most CEO’s are very good generalists. I spent my first 20 years in very different positions. Sales, marketing, HR, M&A, supply chain, real estate (all with the same fortune 500 company). By the time I was in my mid 40s, I was ready to take on a COO/CEO position.

I also knew that international experience could be important, so I spent 4 years overseas. I started with a plan in my early 20s and executed it, and I am still executing it today at 64. Life throws you curve balls. It doesn’t always go as planned. But that is when you learn to make lemonade out of the lemon’s life throws you.

It is tempting to try to please others when you are starting out. You talk a lot about the importance of being your own person. How do you propose people go about this and still maintain favor with others? 

After you have taken deliberate actions toward achieving what you want, you also must make conscious choices that align to your values, beliefs, moral compass, and aspirations. I was never a person that went with the crowd, and people always knew what I stood for, albeit many times different from their beliefs. Because I stood firm on my convictions, people respected me. It is only when you are wishy washy and try and please everyone that you go out of favor. Stand firm on your convictions.

Especially early on, work can be all-encompassing. How can people find a balance between work, leisure, and meaningful relationships?

Life is always about prioritizing. Clear strong choices automatically filter out distractions. Eliminate unnecessary commitments. Avoid wasting time on activities that do not contribute to your purpose. As an example, I like golf, but golf takes 4-6 hours to play. I gave up golf in my early thirties for 20 years because I didn’t think I could be a good golfer and a great father (my jobs were fairly inflexible in hours).

Once my children were grown, I took golf back up. Family time over personal golf time was simply more of a priority.

Worrying about the job and doubting our abilities are common feelings. What advice can you offer to help someone move forward when they are wondering “Can I Do This?” 

There has been more than one time in my life that I had the imposter syndrome. Can I really do this job? Am I smart enough? Will people follow my leadership? Have the confidence in yourself to know that you are prepared for the next big thing. You will make mistakes along the way, but 99% of mistakes are not fatal to one’s career. If you think you can do the job and have the confidence to do the job, the people around you will feed off your confidence. You can do this!!

In order to move into higher leadership roles, one must be ready to step in front of an audience. What advice can you offer to help someone find their voice and trust it?

Start small. Public speaking is one of the greatest fears people have. I had that same fear early on. I started by speaking to small groups of high school students when I was in college. I took a class on public speaking and honed my approach. Most people are great at speaking about something that they are passionate and knowledgeable about. Know your topic better (at least as well as) your audience, be prepared, make it personal with stories (people love stories), and make it fun.

 

Unleash New Opportunities By Relinquishing Traditional Career Thinking

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by Ray Samuels, co-founder of Wripple

Picture these scenarios, all of which happened in real life amidst a continued battle for top talent and a quickly evolving work landscape:

  • A company set a blanket policy that all employees must be in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. At the same time, the internal product team hired a designer for a six-month contract assignment. Their top candidate lived an hour away and could only commute two days. The company policy was rigid though, with  no exceptions, not even for extended team members.
  • After six months of contracting with a highly experienced technical project manager who did a bang-up job, the team decided to convert the contractor to full-time. Too bad said the powers that be – the team was unable to hire her because she doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree. Did we mention the contractor also had deep experience in the category and was a great cultural fit? Oh well…
  • A marketing organization was looking high and low for a seasoned copywriter to join their team on a six-month project to help redefine the brand’s identity. After meeting the perfectly-skilled professional with the right mindset for the challenge, the answer was a resounding no. Why? He was too experienced for the defined organizational level and would be managed by someone younger. The candidate just wanted to do great work and couldn’t have cared less about climbing the corporate ladder or the age of his boss.
  • It was time to make some website updates. The changes required niche expertise for a few hours a week. The freelance opportunity was posted and within a few hours, the needle in a haystack responded to the post. The interview confirmed that the candidate had the exact capabilities and time needed to knock out the job. In full transparency, the candidate shared they have a full-time job and would be side hustling. No-go, said the hiring manager. Even though the work could be done off-hours with limited collaboration, they said a side hustle “didn’t feel right.”

If there is one thing all of these scenarios demonstrate, it is that outdated, old-world thinking about how work gets done and who does it kills progress. While people are becoming accepting of a more flexible, multifaceted approach to work, this acceptance is most pronounced when it comes to full-time employees. However, given the growing importance of on-demand talent as part of a company’s workforce, expanding a more modern work mindset related to contractors and freelancers will help teams thrive.

Specifically, we see three imperatives for successfully engaging on-demand talent in the future of work:

  1. Extend work flexibility, which is highly valued by all workers, to freelancers and contractors
  2. Be deliberate about capability-first hiring decisions
  3. Tap into the side hustle economy for surgical on-demand solutions

1. Extend work flexibility to contractors and freelancers.

Don’t lose out on amazing talent by ignoring the modern workforce’s expectations for flexibility. As referenced in Wripple’s Team Up Report, whether FTE or freelancer, flexibility reigns supreme. According to a study by LiveCareer, 76% of Millennials, 69% of Gen Z, and 64% of Gen X expect workplace flexibility. It’s safe to say the traditional 9-to-5 grind, butts-in-(office)seats era is no longer valid.

This shift is not without its challenges. Teams need to set clear and consistent guidelines for what level of flexibility works for the business:

  • If your ways of working support a fully remote environment, establish authentic and helpful ways to instill engagement across the team.
  • If hybrid, determine what works best for your organization, i.e., set days to be in the office or leave it up to individual teams to decide in-office days.
  • If the business determines fully onsite is required, at least consider flexible scheduling to provide workers with options to achieve better balance.
  • Don’t be too rigid; where warranted, remain open to individual needs for flexibility outside of set guidelines.
  • Be sure to make good use of available tech to keep teams connected and on track to achieve goals.

By offering flexibility to all members of your workforce, you will create a culture that values achieving mutual trust, driving positive outcomes, and maintaining talent wellness.

2. Be deliberate about capability-first hiring decisions.

It’s no surprise that required skills drive the hiring process; however, at times teams can let certain traditional career conventions get in the way of selecting the right person for the job. Whenever possible, avoid the following traditional career thinking traps that take the focus off hiring talent with the right capabilities:

  • Giving outweighed importance to educational requirements vs. capabilities needed.
    According to an Intelligent.com survey from November 2023, nearly half of companies plan to eliminate bachelor’s degree requirements in 2024. Companies such as Google and IBM have been vocal about this move and highlight the importance of valuing a candidate’s experience and skills over an educational profile.
  • Using age as a driving factor for who should be selected for a given position.  
    Companies often have defined career paths that reinforce certain expectations for how old someone should be in a role. These artificial date stamps need to go. They limit a team’s chances of hiring the right talent for the role and in many cases foster ageism in the workplace. An AARP survey reported more than 40% of workers over the age of 40 say they’ve experienced age discrimination at work in the last three years. This translates into substantial missed opportunities to hire seasoned pros who can get to the right answers faster and bring diverse experience to teams. Just because someone is younger or older than what is deemed ‘appropriate’ for a given role, that should not rule them out of consideration.
  • ‍Permitting unconscious bias to go unchecked in the hiring process. 
    Often the hiring process is driven by peoples’ biases for the type of person they think should be in certain roles, e.g. a data scientist or a creative director should look or behave a certain way or have a certain background. By addressing and managing unconscious bias as part of the hiring process, teams can foster a diverse and inclusive workplace where it’s less likely that someone who is a perfect fit is overlooked due to race or background. Organizations can take measures to help address unconscious bias by:

    • Implementing structured interviews with standardized questions and diverse hiring panels.
    • Providing training programs that educate employees about the existence and impact of unconscious biases.
    • Focusing the candidate evaluation process heavily on skills and experience. These measures can contribute to more equitable hiring practices and a more diverse workforce.

3. Tap into the side hustle economy for surgical on-demand solutions.

‍Changing workplace attitudes and norms have fueled an increase of activity in the side hustle economy. According to Bankrate, in 2024 more than a third of U.S. adults (36%) say they have a side hustle (defined as extra money earned beyond one’s main source of income). While side hustlers have been around for a long time, due to company policies and perceptions, they have been less prevalent in the white-collar world.

Marketing teams need to consider the potential benefits of hiring a side hustler to complete project work:

  • Access to in-demand professionals who have diverse and valued skill sets.
  • Fresh outside perspectives that foster innovative solutions and better ways to solve old problems.
  • Cost-effectiveness of an on-demand freelancer, which allows companies to scale their workforce according to project demands without the overhead.

Not every project is right for a side hustle, but for short-term needs requiring niche expertise, companies should be open to working with a freelancer even though they have a full or part-time job. By setting clear expectations for delivery, both the client and professional can benefit from the partnership.

The Bottom Line

With marketing leadership increasingly looking for innovative workforce solutions that include on-demand talent, it’s essential to consider how our changing corporate norms should also apply to freelancers and contractors. Offering all workers greater flexibility, practicing more modern hiring practices, and avoiding potential biases will foster an inclusive and adaptable workplace that sets up on-demand talent for success.

 

ray samuels

Ray Samuels is Co-Founder of Wripple, the breakthrough platform that delivers real talent curated in real time and is changing how digital work gets done. Prior to Wripple, Ray led Razorfish’s largest client portfolio and helped build the Martin Agency’s digital offering. He’s passionate about leading teams to define and execute digital strategies across the entire customer journey. As a veteran of traditional agencies and digital firms, he believes that a technology disruption could change digital services forever, and for the better.  

 

5 Key Factors Influencing Employee Engagement

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employee recognition

employee recognition

Not every team member starts each workday enthusiastically, but if you notice a consistent lack of motivation leading to decreased productivity, it may indicate challenges with engagement. Employee engagement involves an individual’s active participation and contentment in their job. Engaged team members establish emotional connections with their peers and tasks, enabling them to understand the company’s goals better and see their contributions as valuable to the organization’s growth.

Here are five key factors that can influence employee engagement.

1. Opportunities for Advancing Your Career.

Top employees are drawn to companies that offer a clear career path from the outset. They want assurance that their efforts over the years will lead to advancement. Modern workers will readily seek new opportunities if dissatisfied with their current roles. To keep employees engaged and committed, employers must prioritize career development. Discussing promotion prospects should start during the interview process. 

After hiring, new employees should receive career counseling and regular training opportunities. Encouraging them to shadow colleagues in different departments can help them explore various roles within the company and identify potential career interests.

2. Good Management.

Effective management stands as a critical element in achieving high employee engagement levels. The vast majority of employees engage with their managers and supervisors routinely. These leadership roles serve as primary channels through which most individuals manifest and encounter the relationship between employees and the organization.

Your managerial staff should be driven by a passion for nurturing employees’ growth and enabling them to realize their full capabilities. They should possess extensive knowledge of your industry and the positions they supervise to make sound decisions. 

Time clock software can streamline the management process by tracking work hours, giving employees a clear understanding of their time allocation and progress toward goals. The best online time clock features also include attendance tracking, overtime calculation, extensive reporting and real-time tracking.

3. Health.

Employee wellness challenges, such as illness and health issues, can hinder productivity within a company. When employees are unwell, they often take time off work either to prevent spreading infections to their colleagues or because they find solace in being at home.

Additionally, fatigue among employees can lead to decreased productivity and financial setbacks. The economic impact of fatigue amounts to more than $136 billion in lost profits, with a significant portion, 84%, attributed to factors beyond the reduced productivity resulting from sick-related absences.

Introducing a remote work policy can help mitigate these issues by empowering employees to choose when and where they work most efficiently. Properly implemented, remote workers can maintain levels of connectivity and engagement comparable to those who work on-site consistently.

4. Company Culture.

Approximately 46% of job seekers consider company culture a crucial factor when applying for jobs. Seek candidates who align with your values, objectives, and expectations. Otherwise, they may find adapting to the workplace challenging, connecting with their team, and fulfilling their responsibilities.

Internal changes (such as mergers, process improvements, or restructuring) and external factors (like technological disruptions or global crises) can impact company culture and stability. Prioritize agility and resilience to help employees navigate significant changes while also reinforcing your company’s unique culture to ensure it remains intact.

5. Personal Issues.

While individuals may derive satisfaction from their roles and hold positive sentiments towards their employers, encountering personal struggles can significantly impact their concentration and job performance. This could range from personal difficulties like going through a divorce, experiencing a loss in the family, or ending a relationship.

Employees might also battle feelings of depression stemming from factors such as weight gain, financial debts, or the inability to meet financial obligations. While it is ideal for companies to offer support programs to assist individuals in navigating these struggles, not everyone may feel comfortable opening up about their hardships.

Consequently, employees may perceive discussing personal matters and how they influence their job performance as unprofessional. Many individuals struggle with the idea of being vulnerable and requesting assistance, feeling hesitant to share their vulnerabilities with others.

Endnote

Creating a positive work culture within the organization hinges on looking after your employees. Engaged employees usually exhibit higher levels of discipline and productivity. Utilize these employee engagement approaches to effectively handle engagement within different job roles and optimize your employees’ performance.

Veeam Software: A Deep Dive Into Safety Protocols And Pricing Transparency

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veeam software

veeam software

Veeam Software, the #1 provider worldwide in the Data Replication & Protection software market, continues to make waves. Its dominance in the commercial market is now extending more prominently into the federal space.

Two significant clients Veeam started serving this year are the U.S. Navy and the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

These deals demonstrate Veeam’s trusted reputation in protecting critical data.

Safety First: Securing the Seas of Data

With threats to digital data growing like never before, Veeam is stepping in to protect the Navy’s sea of vital information. This engagement involves a $5 million contract, with potential extensions that could bring the total value up to $21 million.

Veeam is teaming up with PMW 160, the Navy program office in charge of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) technology, under a five-year Program Level Agreement

CANES – the Navy’s next-generation tactical afloat network providing infrastructure for applications, systems, and services required to dominate the cyber warfare tactical domains – will benefit immensely from Veeam’s solutions.

Veeam is set to configure, maintain and test its robust Veeam Data Platform and Veeam Kasten K10 for Kubernetes software solutions — to ensure they play well within the Navy’s complex networks.

Veeam’s software has achieved some of the highest certifications for security, including Common Criteria certification, validating alignment with the most stringent international cybersecurity regulatory requirements.

Additionally, it has received the Department of Defense Information Network Approved Products List (DoDIN APL) certification, reflecting the company’s commitment to meeting the Department of Defense’s most stringent security, supportability, and interoperability requirements for complex network environments.

These accreditations demonstrate Veeam’s capability to handle intricate network environments like the Navy’s CANES program.

Cutting Down Recovery Time: A Success Story

Fort Lauderdale serves as a prime example of Veeam’s capabilities, where the city managed to reduce its data recovery times by 95%.

In 2023, Fort Lauderdale faced a severe flash flood that disrupted city services by knocking out power at a data center. Tamecka McKay, the city’s CIO, expressed regret over not implementing Veeam citywide beforehand, believing it could have swiftly restored vital backups and minimized service downtimes.

By bringing Veeam on board, Fort Lauderdale now enjoys secure, flexible solutions for their data protection against cyberattacks and natural disasters. They are also able to satisfy cybersecurity insurance demands.

To further support the city, Veeam is backing up its data from Microsoft 365 to Azure Blob, as the city recognizes the critical need for reliable restoration. For instance, enabling granular recovery of historical emails ensures compliance with legal requirements like Florida’s Sunshine Law, while restoring SharePoint ensures continuous access to the city’s intranet.

These results show how resilient municipalities can become when leveraging Veeam’s sophisticated recovery tools to safeguard their data.

Transparent Prices: Veeam’s Calculator

When it comes to understanding how much Veeam’s solutions will cost, they make it simple.

Their online pricing calculator lets potential customers figure out the price based on their needs and their budget without surprises. Since Veeam sells through channel partners, you can get more detailed quotes based on variations in pricing structures, models, margins and more.

Veeam also makes it easy to buy their services with straightforward steps and help whenever you need it through their sales department.

Veeam proves companies can provide clear and understandable pricing in a world where hidden fees are all too common.

Building a Safe Digital World with Veeam

Veeam Software represents a commitment to reliable safety measures and straightforward pricing. With its stringent security standards and transparent pricing, Veeam sets the standard for reliability in digital partnerships.

It also boasts over 550,000 customers, including 72% of the Global 2000, proving its expertise in data protection.

Visit veeam.com to find out more about what Veeam offers and experience a data-resilient tomorrow.

 

From Educator To Executive: 7 Insights For A Successful Transition

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thinkbook laptop

thinkbook laptop

by Mindy Vail, author of “The Mindshift Effect: Where Change Management Is Redefined and Leadership Is Defined“

Transitioning from the classroom to the corporate world was a journey that transformed my perspective on work, relationships, and personal growth. My nearly 20-year tenure as a high school English teacher provided a unique foundation that equipped me with skills I never imagined would be so valuable in a corporate setting.

Here are seven insights that I’ve found regarding what crucial skills from my teaching career helped me transition successfully into my corporate career:

1. The power of adaptability.

In the classroom, every day brought new challenges. From technological glitches to unexpected curriculum changes, being flexible was essential. This adaptability has been equally important in the corporate world, where market dynamics, technological advancements, and organizational changes require constant agility. Embracing change rather than resisting it allows for smoother transitions and continuous improvement. Plus, if you can handle all the moving parts associated with a room full of 35 teenagers, you can easily adapt to a room full of adults, right?

Teaching high school English honed my ability to communicate complex ideas in an accessible way. Whether describing differing narrative styles of great authors or presenting a new strategy to executives, clear and effective communication is vital. In the corporate world, the ability to convey your message succinctly and persuasively can make the difference between a project’s success or failure.

3. Building relationships matters.

As a teacher, my ability to build strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues was fundamental. Doing so taught me the importance of fostering trust, empathy, and active listening. In the corporate environment, these skills translate to all my professional interactions — from contributing to teamwork, cultivating strong client relationships, and to providing more effective leadership. Who knew that navigating parent-teacher conferences would prepare me so well for navigating corporate conversations?

4. The art of giving and receiving feedback.

In the classroom, providing constructive feedback was part of the daily routine. Learning to give feedback that motivated and guided improvement, rather than discouraged efforts, was crucial. Equally important was accepting feedback from students and peers — and trust me, high schoolers can offer brutally honest feedback, even when unsolicited. In corporate settings, effective feedback is a cornerstone of personal and professional growth, and it helps create a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

5. Time management and prioritization.

Teachers often juggle multiple responsibilities. Whether lesson planning, grading, or leading extracurricular activities. This experience taught me how to manage my time effectively and prioritize tasks. In the corporate world, where deadlines are tight and responsibilities are vast, these time management skills are indispensable. Prioritizing tasks based on their impact and urgency helps in maintaining productivity and reducing stress.

6. Conflict resolution.

Classrooms are microcosms of society, full of diverse personalities, ability levels, attitudes, and occasional conflicts. Managing disagreements among students taught me valuable conflict resolution skills. In the corporate environment, conflicts are inevitable, but how they’re handled can make a significant difference. Addressing issues calmly and fairly, while seeking a mutually beneficial resolution, helps maintain a positive and productive work atmosphere.

7. The importance of lifelong learning.

As a teacher, I was committed to lifelong learning. I was motivated to constantly update my knowledge and skills to better serve my students. This mindset has been incredibly beneficial in the corporate world. Industries evolve rapidly, and staying current with trends, technologies, and best practices is crucial for success. Embracing continuous learning keeps you competitive and ready for new challenges. Plus, it turns out that nerdy enthusiasm for learning is just as valued in the corporate environment as it is in the classroom.

To all recruiters out there: Don’t overlook applicants with backgrounds in education just because they don’t have prior corporate experience. Teachers bring a unique blend of intelligence, empathy, and critical thinking to the table. Their ability to connect with people and manage complex situations can be a tremendous asset in any professional setting!

And to my fellow educators: If you’re contemplating a transition out of teaching, it’s important to recognize that your skills are highly transferable and valuable across various industries. You possess a wealth of experience in communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and relationship-building, making you well-suited for a myriad of roles beyond the classroom. If you’re considering a career change, reach out to a leadership coach who can help you explore different possibilities and align your strengths with new opportunities.

 

mindy vail

Mindy Vail has more than two decades of experience in leadership development, change management, education, and public speaking. Working with emerging leaders and veteran executives alike, her focus is cultivating a growth mindset and fostering resilience. Her new book, “The Mindshift Effect: Where Change Management Is Redefined and Leadership Is Defined (April 16, 2024)”, provides a wellspring of inspiration for leading meaningful organizational change. Learn more at themindshifteffect.com.

Spirituality In Business: Contradiction Or Coexistence?

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by Vijay Eswaran, founder of QI Group

Writer Annie Dillard famously said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” According to the WHO most of the world’s population spend one-third of their adult life at work. In fact, the average American spends around 90,000 hours at the workplace over a lifetime.

Former palliative care nurse Bronnie Ware wrote the immensely popular book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying“, based on her experiences caring for patients in the last 12 weeks of their life. And their top regret is — ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard’. She goes on to explain how they deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence that they missed out on other joys.

A person’s work is central to their life. The relationships and duties which make up a person’s job, consume them well beyond office hours. It’s safe to say our job and the workplace have a significant impact on the quality of our life.

The role of the CEO has never been more complex, or more consequential than it is today. Business leaders today are reshaping how we experience the world, from healthcare, to travel, to education and more. And running a business is no longer about shareholder value and the balance sheet. As CEOs and business owners, we have a responsibility to develop organisations that provide employees with a workplace where they can experience and express a sense of connectedness, acceptance, peace, trust and sense of purpose.

Through my own experience, I have found that managing a business aligned with spiritual values helps establish an overall sense of well-being. Spirituality and business are two words you rarely see in the same sentence. On the surface, the two seem at odds with each other. However, I firmly believe that spirituality is a powerful management concept. Business is a spiritual practice, requiring as much devotion, faith, hope, love and doubt as one’s belief in a higher power.

The word “spirit” comes from the Latin word spiritus meaning “breath”. It is defined as “the vital principle or animating force traditionally believed to be within living beings”.  The concept of spirituality is often confused with religious beliefs. Spirituality has nothing to do with religion. Religion exists outside of you, when you join others in believing or following a set of practices. Spirituality, on the other hand, exists within you. It is an experience that one harbours inside and is extremely personal to each individual. It involves looking within and defining a system of belief that takes root within your own disposition. No one can instruct you on the perfect way to practice spirituality because ultimately only you know how.

The nature and meaning of work has undergone an intense evolution. The idea of work is no longer separate from the individual. A person’s work is now seen as an extension of the individual. Yet, work is the last place most people think about spirituality. In the words of Thomas Carlyle, work is worship. When we do our jobs with excellence, integrity and diligence it becomes an act of worship. In fact, the Hebrew word “avodah” (ah-vod-ah) is translated in the English Bible for both work and worship.

More important than the work we do, is our attitude to it. The practice of bringing your greatest talents to the world — and being rewarded for doing so — is the most spiritual work you can do. If we bring our souls to work, we can transform our work. That is when our work can begin to transform us.

There is a growing body of research that shows that bringing ethics and spiritual values into the workplace can lead to increased productivity and profitability as well as employee retention, customer loyalty, and brand reputation. When you incorporate spirituality into your business, you change the persona of the business into a living entity from an empty corporate shell. Spirituality gives a business soul. A business that lacks spirituality leaves no legacy. More often than not, such a business is focused solely on chasing profits and ultimately loses its soul. History is rife with examples of companies that profited from the Golden Age of Capitalism and thrived, before losing their way because they lost their soul. (Lehmann brothers, Enron, Tyco, Worldcom…)

Businesses that started in the late 90s and after the turn of the century seem to understand this better. Many have incorporated spirituality successfully into the organisational culture and show it through their commitment to the 3Ps of triple bottom line.

  • Purpose – People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Employees yearn to feel part of a mission, to add value and to contribute in a meaningful way. Older employees want to know what their legacy is. Millennials are looking for flexible workplaces that provide meaning and growth opportunities. People are driven by a strong sense of purpose. When the organization is purpose driven and meaning based, people want to do their best to help it succeed and be a part of its growth.
  • People – Many business leaders say that their people are their greatest assets. Those who truly put it in practice know the importance of investing in their people. It is not always easy to build people, and in some cases, it can be a thankless task. The servant leaders who understand the concept of ‘service above self’, know that when you serve your people, they will serve your customers. Companies that make human development their priority know that even if people leave them, they will leave better than when they came in.
  • Planet – With growing awareness of depletion of the earth’s limited resources, many companies are making sustainability a key focus area. They understand that leaving a legacy for the future requires taking steps to protect the present. Spiritually aware companies are taking measures, however painful, to reduce or eliminate their ecological footprint.

It is heartening to see more and more businesses openly discussing spirituality as an integral part of their corporate culture. They are proving that spirituality helps, rather than harms, the bottom line.

When you love what you do, you never have to work a single day in your life. Or as the poet Kahlil Gibran reminds us in The Prophet, “Work is love made visible.”

 

Vijay Eswaran

Vijay Eswaran is an entrepreneur, speaker, and philanthropist. He is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the QI Group of Companies, a multi-business conglomerate with headquarters in Hong Kong, offices in more than 25 countries and customers in over 100 countries. He is author of the best-selling book “In the Sphere of Silence“.

 

4 Ways To Become A Well-Respected Leader

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young woman in office

young woman in office

by Kelly L. Campbell, author of “Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership through Trauma Healing“

Emerging leaders can be drawn to entrepreneurship for reasons that are not entirely clear at first. You’re passionate and driven, motivated to create something powerful, build something meaningful, or subconsciously prove to ourselves and others that we’re inherently valuable.

If you’re anything like I was as a young CEO, you possess some level of self-awareness that your decisions and behaviors aren’t always in complete integrity. When you allow that thought into your conscious mind, however, you immediately distract yourself with anything else. This was how I existed for the first decade of my early career as a founder. I worked longer hours, made unhealthy food and beverage choices, made some poor financial decisions due to money trauma, and I didn’t maintain my friendships very well. Nearly everything I talked about, thought about, and did was in service to the company I founded and its success.

I didn’t actually know who I was without my title and team because I was outsourcing validation instead of trusting myself. It wasn’t until I started allowing myself to get curious about why I reacted the way I did, did I realize that I had to do the necessary work of healing my childhood trauma.

Founders who find themselves in positions of power for the first time, especially if they’re operating from a place of core wounding, can focus so narrowly on the business that they feel overwhelmed and can even burn out at an early age. They may not see how their wounded behavior impacts others on their team, which is felt even more deeply within a small startup. All of this can lead to significant distrust, resentment, and a lack of respect— and that makes its way to the bottom line, leading to fiscal instability.

Once your team starts to lose respect for you as a leader, there’s only one way forward. And that is to start working on you—by taking ownership for the ways in which your past trauma is influencing your present leadership style and leaning into the discomfort that will bring about personal evolution. If your team hasn’t lost respect for you, you can get ahead of a potentially inevitable trajectory by taking the following four-part guidance to heart.

“As leaders we have a responsibility to work on our own emotional maturity
in order to serve others from a place of integrity.”

From Heal to Lead, the four interconnected fundamentals of high-conscious leadership include:

1. Integrating Trauma.

So long as unintegrated trauma from childhood remains stored in your body, the little version of you will be running the show. Your company requires a wise adult at the helm. Beginning with introspection, it takes courage to challenge your own ego, to work on your emotional past, and to actively change the ways you show up as a leader. It requires pattern disruption to carve new neural pathways away from deeply engrained beliefs about who we are, based on the coping mechanisms we employed during youth to get our basic needs met.

2. Embodying Vulnerability. 

It takes courage to lean into the discomfort of being true to yourself above all else, which requires a different kind of strength than the one we’ve all been taught to associate with leadership. A leader who learns how to embody the practice of being vulnerable forges trust and creates a supportive environment in which people can feel safe to bring their ideas, concerns, and feedback to the table. Think of the collaboration and innovation that becomes possible when these characteristics are foundational components of a company culture.

3. Leading with Compassion.

Studies show that most employees leave startups because of poor leadership and the culture that is created as a trickle-down thereof. Well-respected leaders are more than sympathetic or empathetic when people issues arise. Beyond feeling with those under our stewardship, compassion contains an action orientation that compels leaders to support all stakeholders in meaningful ways — feeling with and taking action that’s within our capacity. When your people know that you care about them beyond the bottom line, they respond with reciprocity in the form of loyalty, productivity, and conscious communication.

4. Lighting the Way.

We must cultivate an abiding trust with our primary partner — our self. After all, how can others trust us if we cannot trust ourselves? Once you become self-resourced, your ego and need for approval in workplace environments no longer gets in the way of your leadership. Lighting the way also requires letting go of antiquated methods of success measurement. When it comes to seeing the whole human in each of our employees, see the heart before the hard skills, not the other way around. When you hold space for healing, you create meaningful and honorable partnerships with your people. When you make the conscious choice to engage in relationship as a sacred path, you are revolutionizing healing for yourself, others, and the systems in which we operate.

As young leaders, if we want to feel fulfilled, a deeper sense of connection, and success on a soul level, it’s time to reclaim our relationships and rebuild broken ways of doing business. The path forward starts with awareness, courage, and compassion. By creating a nurturing environment, leaders empower those they lead to gain strength, share their gifts, and play a role in creating a better future for the organization and far beyond it. That’s respect on an entirely new level.

 

kelly campbell

Kelly L. Campbell writes about trauma, leadership, and consciousness — “The New TLC” — on Substack, for Entrepreneur, and formerly for Forbes. They are a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach, keynote speaker, and the author of “Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership through Trauma Healing“.

 

 

The Benefits Of Giving Corporate Gift Baskets To Clients 

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Client appreciation is a challenge. You want to show your customers you care. Generic gifts often fall flat. They don’t leave a lasting impression. You miss out on a chance to deepen relationships. You want to foster loyalty. But how?

Corporate gift baskets offer a solution. They’re personal and impactful. They go beyond simple gestures. Gift baskets create meaningful connections. They offer key benefits to your business. They benefit your clients, too.

This article will dive into those benefits. You’ll learn how gift baskets strengthen relationships. They boost morale. They enhance your brand. Plus, they drive business growth.

1. Building Stronger Relationships.

A thoughtful gift speaks volumes. It shows appreciation. It fosters goodwill. A gift basket conveys a message. It says, “We value your partnership.” This builds a strong foundation for your relationship.

Gift baskets create positive associations with your brand. They’re not just a transaction. They’re a gesture of gratitude. This creates a positive feeling towards your company. It builds trust and loyalty. Trying out creative office gift basket ideas can spark inspiration for curated gifts that resonate with your clients.

Personalization is key. Tailor the basket to your client’s interests. Include their favorite snacks or a bottle of their preferred wine. This shows you’ve put thought into the gift. It makes them feel valued and understood.

2. Boosting Morale And Motivation.

Everyone loves a surprise. Unexpected gifts can brighten someone’s day. They create a positive work environment. This is true for both employees and clients alike. A gift basket shows your clients you see them. You recognize their contributions. This simple act can do wonders for morale.

Increased motivation often follows. A client who feels appreciated will likely go the extra mile. This can translate to increased engagement. It can boost loyalty, too. A happy client is a repeat client. This leads to long-term success. Client referrals also increase. These new leads can drive business growth.

A gift basket is more than a present. It’s an investment in your relationship. It’s a way to say, “We value your partnership.”

3. Enhancing Brand Visibility.

Gift baskets aren’t just about appreciation. They’re a subtle yet effective marketing tool. Think of them as a walking billboard for your brand. They get people talking and create a buzz around your company.

Include branded items in the basket. This reinforces brand awareness. A logoed mug, pen, or notebook goes a long way. It keeps your company top of mind with clients. It serves as a gentle reminder of your partnership and the value you bring.

This gesture often leads to word-of-mouth referrals. Clients might share the goodies with colleagues or friends. This expands your brand’s reach organically. It increases your brand exposure, too, as your logo and company name travel beyond your immediate client base. Gift baskets are a win-win for fostering relationships and promoting your brand.

4. Driving Business Growth.

Corporate gifting does more than just make clients smile. They can directly impact your bottom line. They foster goodwill and loyalty. This leads to increased customer retention. Clients are more likely to stick around when they feel valued and appreciated.

Furthermore, happy clients are also more likely to refer you to others. This opens doors to new business opportunities. You tap into their network and expand your reach organically. Word-of-mouth marketing is a powerful tool, and gift baskets can be the catalyst.

A well-curated gift basket sets you apart from the competition. It shows you go the extra mile for your clients. It differentiates you from your competitors who may not offer such personalized touches. It’s a tangible symbol of your commitment to client satisfaction and building lasting relationships. This can lead to increased sales and a stronger reputation in the market.

5. Creating A Positive Company Culture.

Gift-giving isn’t just for clients. It can transform your internal culture, too. Make it a tradition to celebrate employee milestones. Birthdays, work anniversaries, or significant achievements are all opportunities to show appreciation. This reinforces a positive company culture where employees feel valued.

A culture of appreciation boosts morale significantly. Employees who feel seen and recognized for their contributions are more likely to be engaged in their work. This often leads to increased productivity and a stronger sense of team spirit. A happy employee is a productive employee, and gift-giving can play a crucial role in fostering that happiness.

Furthermore, a positive company culture attracts top talent. People want to work for companies that care about their well-being and celebrate their successes. They want to be part of a team that fosters a sense of community and appreciation. Gift-giving plays a crucial role in cultivating this type of environment. It sends a clear message that the company values its employees and invests in their happiness.

Conclusion

Corporate gift baskets are more than just a collection of goodies. They’re a powerful tool to strengthen client relationships. They boost morale, enhance your brand’s visibility, and drive business growth.

Personalization and thoughtful selection are key. Take the time to understand your clients’ preferences. Choose items that resonate with them. This shows you care and builds rapport. Gift baskets are an investment in your relationships.

Don’t limit gift baskets to the holidays. Consider sending them for birthdays, work anniversaries, or project milestones. Partner with local businesses to create unique and curated baskets. This supports your community and adds a personal touch. Finally, track the impact of your gift baskets. Measure client satisfaction and engagement. This data can help you refine your gifting strategy and maximize your return on investment.

Top 6 “First Jobs” To Set Yourself Up For Career Success

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hiring handshake

hiring handshake

Are you ready for your first job outside the house, but aren’t quite sure where to look?

You know that this first gig probably won’t define you for the rest of your life, nor turn into a high-paying career that puts your wildest dreams within reach. 

At the same time, you don’t want to waste your time in a job you actively despise. Nor do you want a role that won’t challenge you or teach you anything you can’t learn elsewhere. 

Fortunately, plenty of entry-level jobs are both fun (most of the time) and challenging. These six are great if you’re eager to build practical skills that will serve you later in life — both personally and professionally — without diving headlong into a full-time career right away.

1. Graphic Design.

Internet entrepreneur Sky Dayton famously worked as an animation assistant before founding EarthLink, the dial-up company credited with bringing affordable internet access to the masses. While he never held another graphic design job, he credits the experience with teaching him the value of hard work and attention to detail. 

The gig also pushed him out of his creative comfort zone, which may explain why he went on to found or invest in a variety of companies in the connectivity, mobile communication, and digital app spaces after leaving EarthLink.

Even if you don’t aspire to become an internet entrepreneur, graphic design and related creative jobs can help you test the bounds of your personal creativity and discover latent talents. In the end, you might decide creative work isn’t the best fit for you, but at least you’ll have learned something along the way.

2. Neighborhood Delivery.

Warren Buffett delivered newspapers around his neighborhood as a kid. Unlike most young newspaper delivery workers, he set aside enough of what he earned to fund his first stock market investments. The rest, as they say, is history.

The newspaper delivery business isn’t what it was when Buffett was a child, but there’s still room for enterprising young people in it. And there are other youth-friendly delivery gigs that teach similar skills, including some you can do on your bike or even on foot.

3. Supermarket/Retail Clerk.

Many career coaches believe every young person should hold at least one customer service job before they take their first career-track role. Customer service jobs like supermarket or department store checkout clerks teach countless fundamental skills that will serve you in just about any career you choose, including patience, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, and basic goal-oriented planning and organization.

For better or worse, working in customer service will also show you lots of ways not to treat others. You’ll find yourself on the receiving end of rude or even abusive behavior more often than you’d prefer, but those experiences too will offer valuable lessons for the future.

4. Tutor.

Although personalized, AI-supported tutoring apps are steadily replacing human tutors, there’s still a place for peer-led tutoring and probably will be for a while yet. If you’re good at breaking down complicated concepts, you’d do well in this role. Many people who later go into teaching, research, and other academic roles credit their experience as high school or college tutors for pushing them along.

5. Youth Sports Official.

Like retail clerks, youth sports referees and umpires come in for more criticism than they deserve, most often from parents and coaches who take the game a bit too seriously. Still, this ever-popular job for young people is a wonderful way to learn basic values like following the rules and applying them fairly, along with important life skills like conflict resolution and effective communication.

6. Landscaping/Groundskeeping Assistant.

While landscapers and groundskeepers don’t interact closely with the general public, they often work in close-knit teams whose performance depends on how well they communicate and divide tasks internally. Accordingly, this type of gig is ideal for future leaders who want to master the basics of teamwork in professional settings and apply those lessons to future roles as supervisors, managers, and perhaps executives.

Don’t Let Your First Job Define You

Most “first jobs” are meant to be temporary, or at least not intended to progress into lengthy careers. Some make no secret of the fact that they’re designed for “up or out” trajectories: either you quickly move into positions of higher responsibility within the same organization, or you leave, voluntarily or otherwise.

It’s difficult for a job like that to define you as a worker, much less as a person. A few years from now, you might not even bother to include it on your CV anymore.

However, you’ll always have the memory of that first job, and the ones that come after. For your own benefit as a productive member of society, it’s important to use those memories — and what you learned on the job — to improve your performance at whatever comes next. At the same time, it’s important not to let those memories define you by “overlearning” those early lessons and getting too set in your ways. 

After all, the workplace and the wider economy are changing fast. The workers most likely to succeed in the future are those who take the right lessons from the past.

 

Black Clothing In Hospitality: A Professional Look

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Waiter at a restaurant wearing black

Waiter at a restaurant wearing black

In the hospitality industry, black clothing is a timeless and versatile choice that offers numerous advantages. Whether in fine dining restaurants, casual eateries, hotels, or catering services, black uniforms are a popular and practical option.

Here are the key reasons why black clothing is favored in hospitality:

1. Professional Appearance.

Black uniforms exude a sense of professionalism and elegance. They create a sleek, polished look that is ideal for high-end restaurants, hotels, and events. The color black is often associated with sophistication and formality, making it a suitable choice for settings where a refined appearance is essential.

2. Versatility and Timelessness.

Black is a neutral color that complements any décor or theme. This versatility allows black uniforms to seamlessly fit into various hospitality settings, from modern, minimalist restaurants to classic, upscale dining establishments. Moreover, black never goes out of style, ensuring that uniforms remain fashionable over time.

3. Practicality.

One of the most practical aspects of black clothing is its ability to conceal stains and spills. In the fast-paced hospitality environment, where accidents are common, black chef coats such as those at www.chefworks.com/black-chef-coats help maintain a clean and tidy appearance throughout a shift. This is particularly important for roles involving food and beverage service.

4. Uniformity and Team Cohesion.

Black uniforms contribute to a cohesive team appearance. When all staff members wear the same color, it reinforces the sense of unity and professionalism within the team. This uniformity can also enhance customer perception, as guests can easily identify staff members and associate them with the establishment’s brand.

5. Enhances Brand Identity.

Black uniforms can be easily customized with logos, embroidery, or accents that reflect a brand’s identity. Whether it’s a subtle embroidered logo or a splash of color through accessories, black provides a perfect backdrop for showcasing a brand’s unique elements. This customization helps reinforce brand recognition and loyalty.

6. Gender Neutrality.

Black uniforms are gender-neutral and look good on all body types. This inclusivity ensures that all staff members feel comfortable and confident in their attire, regardless of their gender or physique. The universal appeal of black helps create an inclusive and supportive work environment.

7. Functional and Comfortable Designs.

Modern black uniforms are designed with functionality and comfort in mind. From breathable fabrics to ergonomic cuts, these uniforms are tailored to meet the demands of hospitality work. Features such as adjustable waistbands, moisture-wicking materials, and practical pockets enhance the comfort and utility of black uniforms.

8. Psychological Impact.

The color black is often perceived as authoritative and reliable. Staff members in black uniforms may be viewed as more competent and trustworthy by customers. This psychological impact can enhance the overall guest experience, as customers feel confident in the service provided by professionally dressed staff.

9. Cost-Effectiveness.

Black uniforms are widely available and often more cost-effective than other colors. Their popularity means that businesses can find a range of options at various price points without compromising on quality. Additionally, the durability of black clothing means that uniforms will last longer, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Conclusion

Black clothing remains a staple in the hospitality industry for its numerous benefits. Its professional appearance, practicality, versatility, and ability to enhance brand identity make it an excellent choice for hospitality uniforms. By choosing black, hospitality businesses can ensure their staff look polished and professional, while also providing comfort and functionality needed for demanding roles. This timeless color helps create a cohesive and elegant image that can elevate the overall guest experience.

[Photo credits: Ron Lach]

How To Use SEO for Startups – WebHummel

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Gaining traction online can be complex, and you might struggle to stand out as a new business. However, organic search is the top traffic source for all websites, so getting your SEO right is hugely important if you’re new to the business world.

This guide will run through the basics of SEO for small businesses so you can get set up and gain more traffic. From on-site to off-site practices, technical SEO, and the benefits of SEO for new business enterprises, we’ll teach you how to attract more customers to your website.

Where to start with startup SEO

SEO helps you generate more leads from your website, so let’s explore where to start with your SEO strategy as a small or new business.

Define your goals

Every organisation is different, and your objectives will be different, too. Whether you want to increase traffic across your entire website, generate more leads, increase brand awareness, or sell specific products, learning what you want to achieve will guide your strategy.

With SEO for startups, it’s important to be realistic and specific. So, pick measurable goals like a certain percentage increase in traffic, time spent on your site, or conversions, and don’t be put off if you fail to reach them because they’re too ambitious.

Instead, revisit your goals regularly and tweak your strategy if you need to.

Build a website

Your website is where visitors end up as a result of SEO, making it an important aspect of your organisation and effectively the face of your business.

Make your website user-friendly and simple to navigate for the best results and ensure pages are organised and that your site is secure. Pages must also load quickly to keep people’s attention, and everything must be built with your customers in mind.

The elements of an SEO strategy

With goals and a website in hand, it’s time to get started on your SEO strategy. This encompasses three core aspects: on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.

On-page SEO for startups

Keyword analysis

Keywords are the backbone of an SEO campaign and the best place to start is with competitive keyword analysis. This shows you what keywords your competitors are ranking for. You can use this data to your advantage and take steps to beat them to valuable search engine results positions.

Content planning

Next, it’s time to implement your keywords into your website content. As well as your main pages, you could also consider writing a regular blog. This should include high-quality advice and content that benefits your customers and instils trust in Google and other search engines. The result will be higher rankings and more clicks.

Off-page SEO for startups

Link building

Off-page startup SEO practices go hand-in-hand with on-site efforts and get your content in front of more people. Link building is a key aspect of off-page SEO and is the process of getting your articles and website pages onto other websites in your industry.

The better your content is, the more likely you are to get backlinks, and you should ensure that you end up on authoritative businesses in your industry for the best results.

Link building can be achieved through guest blogging, being listed in directories, and promoting yourself in relevant forums.

Social media marketing

Social media marketing helps you boost traffic to your website and build your brand’s reputation and awareness. A strong social media marketing strategy is important for new businesses looking to make an impact and it can complement your SEO strategy.

Technical SEO for startups

Technical SEO ensures Google and other search engines can index your site. This leads to higher trust and rankings, which in turn, leads to more clicks and enquiries.

Start with a technical SEO audit which will flag issues such as:

  • Broken links and error codes.
  • Poor page speed.
  • Poorly optimised title tags and meta descriptions.
  • Mobile friendliness.
  • Site safety with SSL (secure sockets layer) and HTTPS (hypertext transfer protocol secure).
  • Poorly optimised XML sitemaps.
  • Duplicate content.
  • Site structure issues.

Technical SEO for startups is complicated and it pays to use the help of an SEO expert.

Benefits of SEO for startups

As a startup, SEO is of huge importance and there are many benefits to getting it right. These include:

  • Save money and can achieve great ROI (return on investment).
  • Improve brand awareness, trust, and credibility.
  • Drive engagement with your target demographic.
  • Direct high-quality traffic to your website.
  • Stand out as a startup.
  • Boost your bottom line.
  • Increase footfall to physical sites with local SEO optimisation.

Make an impact online with startup SEO practices

It can be difficult to get noticed if you’re a new business, but SEO is a great way to build long-term success. By following these SEO for new business tips, you can start your journey to digital success both now and in the future.

 

Unlock Your Consulting Career With Gabriel Goldbrain: The Case Interview Training Advantage

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Gabriel Goldbrain

Gabriel Goldbrain

This is a post sponsored by Goldbrain SRL. Goldbrain offers the Goldbrain Success Training which intends to significantly increase graduates’ odds to break into tier 1 and tier 2 management consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG and Bain. 

In today’s competitive job market, freshly graduated students face numerous challenges when it comes to landing their dream job. For those aspiring to break into the prestigious world of management consulting, the hurdles can be even higher. Top firms like McKinsey, Bain & Company, and Boston Consulting Group demand not only academic excellence but also a unique blend of analytical prowess, problem-solving skills, and the ability to think strategically under pressure.

This is where Gabriel Goldbrain steps in, providing a specialized service that transforms ambitious graduates into successful consulting candidates. The case interview training, The SUCCESS Training.

Gabriel Goldbrain is more than just a coaching service; it’s a lifeline for those determined to make their mark in the consulting industry. Our flagship offering, the Success Training, is a case interview training that stands out with its unique “only pay if you succeed” model. This means that our clients only pay for the service once they secure an offer from a consulting firm. This success-based case interview training approach not only demonstrates our confidence in our training methods but also aligns our goals with those of our clients.

The Success Training program at Gabriel Goldbrain is a case interview training that is meticulously designed to cover every aspect of the consulting application process. From crafting a standout resume and cover letter to mastering case interviews and developing a deep understanding of business concepts, our comprehensive case interview training ensures that candidates are well-prepared for each stage of the recruitment process. Our experienced coach, who is a former consultant from top firms, provides personalised guidance and feedback, helping candidates refine their skills and boost their confidence.

One of the key components of our case interview training is the focus on case interviews, which are a cornerstone of the consulting hiring process. Through rigorous practice sessions, candidates learn how to approach complex business problems, develop structured solutions, and communicate their ideas effectively. This hands-on case interview training, combined with real-time feedback from our coaches, equips candidates with the tools they need to excel in high-pressure interview scenarios.

Moreover, Gabriel Goldbrain recognizes the importance of a well-rounded approach to career preparation. In addition to technical skills, we emphasise the development of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. These attributes are crucial for success in the consulting world, where consultants must work collaboratively with clients and colleagues to deliver impactful results.

Our commitment to our clients’ success extends beyond the training period. We offer ongoing support and mentorship, helping candidates navigate the complexities of the consulting recruitment process and transition smoothly into their new roles. This holistic approach ensures that our clients are not only prepared to secure job offers but also to thrive in their consulting careers.

In an era where education costs are soaring and job security is uncertain, Gabriel Goldbrain’s Success Training offers a risk-free pathway to a lucrative and fulfilling career in management consulting. By investing in our clients’ success and standing by them every step of the way, we make the dream of working at top consulting firms accessible and achievable.

To learn more about how Gabriel Goldbrain can help you launch your consulting career, visit Gabriel Goldbrain. Our dedicated team is ready to help you turn your ambitions into reality, with a service that only asks you to pay if you succeed. Join the ranks of successful consultants who have benefited from our expertise and start your journey with Gabriel Goldbrain’s case interview training today.

Embark on your consulting career with confidence and let Gabriel Goldbrain be your guide to success.

Protocol-Owned Liquidity: A Sustainable Path For DeFi

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permissioned blockchain

permissioned blockchain

by Jared Grey, Managing Director of Sushi Labs

In the dynamic world of decentralized finance (DeFi), the quest for liquidity is a continual focus. Liquidity enables transactions, facilitates price discovery, and supports the overall stability and functionality of DeFi protocols. Traditionally, DeFi projects have relied heavily on liquidity mining schemes to attract liquidity providers (LPs) by incentivizing them with tokens. While effective in the short term for boosting liquidity and user metrics, these schemes often lead to unsustainable outcomes, fostering dependency on external incentives and contributing to volatility in token prices.

In contrast, protocol-owned liquidity presents a compelling alternative, emphasizing long-term sustainability, stability, and resilience in the DeFi space.

The Pitfalls of Traditional Liquidity Mining

Liquidity mining has undeniably played a pivotal role in the rapid growth of DeFi platforms. By rewarding LPs with tokens to provide liquidity to pools, projects can quickly amass liquidity and achieve high trading volumes. This influx of liquidity can create the appearance of a vibrant ecosystem, attracting users and investors seeking opportunities for yield farming and trading.

However, the reliance on external incentives introduces several significant challenges. Firstly, liquidity mining programs are often costly, requiring continuous token issuance or distribution to sustain participant interest, which can strain the project’s tokenomics and governance and potentially lead to inflationary pressures or dilution of token value over time.

Secondly, the liquidity provided through mining schemes tends to be transient and highly sensitive to market conditions. LPs are incentivized primarily by short-term gains rather than a commitment to the project’s long-term success. As a result, liquidity can swiftly exit when incentives diminish or market sentiment shifts, leading to liquidity crises and increased volatility in token prices. This volatility can undermine user confidence and hinder the development of a stable and sustainable ecosystem.

Embracing Protocol-Owned Liquidity

In contrast to traditional liquidity mining, protocol-owned liquidity represents a paradigm shift towards sustainability and resilience in DeFi. Protocol-owned liquidity involves allocating a portion of the project’s treasury or reserves to provide liquidity on decentralized exchanges (DEXs). This approach enhances the project’s financial stability and aligns the protocol’s interests with its users and stakeholders.

Stability and Long-Term Commitment

By deploying protocol-owned liquidity, projects can ensure a stable and reliable liquidity base less susceptible to market fluctuations and external incentives. This stability is crucial for attracting long-term investors and users who prioritize security and predictability in their DeFi investments. Moreover, protocol-owned liquidity serves as a buffer during periods of market volatility, providing essential liquidity when external LPs may withdraw.

Governance and Decentralization

Protocol-owned liquidity also enhances governance and decentralization within DeFi ecosystems. Projects can exercise greater control over tokenomics and governance mechanisms by directly managing liquidity reserves; autonomy reduces reliance on external stakeholders and aligns incentives toward the project’s long-term vision and sustainability. Furthermore, integrating protocol-owned liquidity into governance frameworks enables stakeholders to participate in decision-making processes regarding liquidity management, fostering a more inclusive and transparent ecosystem.

Sustainability and Ecosystem Development

Beyond immediate liquidity provision, protocol-owned liquidity supports sustainable ecosystem development. Projects can strategically allocate liquidity to incentivize specific behaviors, such as providing liquidity to newly launched assets or supporting strategic partnerships. This targeted approach promotes organic growth and fosters a robust ecosystem where liquidity is allocated based on long-term strategic objectives rather than short-term incentives.

Overcoming Challenges and Implementation

Implementing protocol-owned liquidity requires careful planning and execution. Projects must balance liquidity allocation with other financial commitments and operational expenses. Transparent governance processes are essential to ensure stakeholders’ trust and participation in liquidity management decisions. Additionally, projects may explore innovative mechanisms, such as automated market makers (AMMs) and liquidity bootstrapping pools (LBPs), to optimize liquidity deployment and minimize risks.

Conclusion

As DeFi continues to evolve, the shift towards protocol-owned liquidity represents a critical step towards building sustainable and resilient financial ecosystems. Projects can mitigate the pitfalls of traditional liquidity mining schemes by prioritizing stability, long-term commitment, and decentralized governance. Protocol-owned liquidity enhances financial resilience and fosters trust and confidence among users and investors, laying the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable DeFi landscape. Embracing this paradigm shift will empower projects to navigate market uncertainties effectively and contribute to DeFi’s long-term viability.

While traditional liquidity mining schemes provide initial momentum, protocol-owned liquidity offers a strategic path toward long-lasting success in DeFi. By prioritizing sustainability and aligning incentives, DeFi projects can build a resilient foundation for the future of finance.

 

jared grey

Jared Grey is the managing director of Sushi Labs, Sushi DAO’s strategy and development arm, recognized for its work on the Sushi Swap decentralized exchange. Jared’s background includes computer engineering and IT consulting, and more than eight years in the cryptocurrency industry, where he has led protocol and business development for varied projects.

Gone From “Motivated” To “Meh”? Four Tips To Help Entrepreneurs Get Your Groove Back

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by Julie Bee, author of “Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success“

Lately you’re just not “feeling it” as you lead your small business. You’re disengaged, apathetic, and operating on autopilot. The enjoyment and motivation that used to fire you up are long gone; instead, you’re coasting on a wave of “meh” (and even that’s losing momentum). If you had the energy to feel irritated, you’d probably be annoyed because you aren’t even sure why work isn’t working anymore. It’s not necessarily that your employees are unhappy or that your business isn’t growing. (Things may be going great in those areas.) What gives?

It’s common for entrepreneurs to hit a wall and feel that they’re “over” the small business they once launched and nurtured. And no, you’re not crazy — it’s likely that something about your small business really isn’t working for you.

I see this frequently, and it usually happens to entrepreneurs who have been in business for five years or more.

When you’re first starting out as an entrepreneur, you might do things a certain way because you lack time, manpower, resources, knowledge, and so on—not because you’ve done extensive research and believe these systems and processes are the absolute best options. As time goes by, the ways of working you adopted early on become entrenched. But what if one of those things is draining your energy, causing you unnecessary stress, or keeping you from doing what fulfills you? Of course you’ll eventually start to feel frustrated and “stuck.”

Many of my clients assume that feeling this way is part of the normal stress of owning a business, and that it’s something they can just power through. But feeling disengaged and burdened is often a sign that you’re headed toward burnout — which can cause major damage to your business, finances, relationships, and health. It’s important to identify what’s making work not ‘work’ for you — ideally before you flame out.

Here are four things to do if the “work isn’t working” conundrum seems all too familiar:

First, understand what it feels like when work isn’t working.

Every entrepreneur has red flags that signal when something isn’t working, and it probably won’t be difficult to identify some of yours. Red flags are actions, habits, behaviors, or circumstances that indicate you’re off-balance, stressed, and dangerously drained.

For instance:

  • You’re having trouble sleeping (or you’re sleeping too much).
  • Your interactions with others have become more contentious.
  • You’ve started to socially withdraw from friends and family.
  • You miss an activity, hobby, or habit you used to do but just don’t have time for anymore.
  • You’re finding it difficult to focus and/or come up with new ideas.
  • When employees or clients ask you a question, you don’t know the answer. When they ask you to make a decision, you find yourself thinking, I don’t care.
  • You’re constantly putting out administrative fires at work, instead of working on the important tasks that will grow your business.
  • Your self-care (e.g., grooming, nutrition, exercise, etc.) has slipped.
  • You’re leaning harder into a coping mechanism (e.g., alcohol, medication, etc.).
  • When others ask you for something, your standard answer is, “I’m too busy.”
  • You’re clinging to the belief that if you can “just get through” a particular deadline or challenge, everything will magically get better.
  • There’s an issue or question that’s been haunting you for a long time—six months or more — and you don’t know what to do about it.

Next, figure out what’s causing the problem.

Entrepreneurs are busy people. You might realize that you aren’t feeling as engaged and excited about the future, but you don’t have the time or energy to sit back and reflect on why that is. To help you zero in on why you’re feeling “over” your business, my simple five-question assessment can help you discover what’s draining your energy. After completing the quiz, I also offer tips to help you refuel.

Think of this assessment as a conversation-starter. It’s meant to help you identify elements of your work that, when high or low, put you at risk for burnout. For instance, maybe rapid change makes you feel drained, or you thrive more when working independently than when leading a team.

Carve out space to make changes.

My top tips are to temporarily say no to new, and to press pause on projects that can wait. Just for a while, stop chasing new opportunities, developing new ideas, and working on “nice-to-have” initiatives. Put your time, energy, and thought into addressing whatever isn’t working.

Don’t think of this as doing less — think of it as doing more for yourself. I frequently tell my clients, ‘It’s okay not to do these three or four things right now.’ Before you can make productive changes and grow your business, you need to make space to address your pain points as a business owner and prioritize your personal well-being.

Ask for help if you need it.

If your best efforts have created a work environment that isn’t working for you, you may need some outside assistance to get to a better place. Asking for help is hard for high performers, but there’s no shame in it. Even though entrepreneurs tend to fall into the “rugged individualist” category, we’re still human. We don’t know what we don’t know — and we were never meant to operate in a vacuum.

I often find that what my clients need most is someone to meet them where they are, point out a few (small and digestible!) action steps, and walk alongside them without judgment. Especially when you’re approaching — or actively in — a state of burnout, it’s hard to see things objectively. The support and advice of a coach, mentor, therapist, business partner, or loved one can make a big difference.

Business ownership isn’t one-size-fits-all. While there may be ‘wrong’ ways to run a business, there isn’t a single ‘right’ way. For entrepreneurs, so much of being successful depends on knowing yourself: what fuels you, what drains you, what you can tolerate, what you can’t, what helps you do your best work — and when you’re pushing your limits.

So before you assume that your work will never work for you again and throw in the towel, take some time to look inward. Chances are your relationship with your small business isn’t irreparably broken; it just needs some targeted tweaks.

 

julie bee

Julie Bee is the author of “Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success“. A business owner burnout strategist, Bee has been dubbed the “small business fixer” by her clients and peers. With over fifteen years in the entrepreneurial field, she has solidified her reputation as a dynamic consultant, a riveting speaker, and a leader who sheds light on the darker side of business ownership.

 

How This Female CEO Drives Growth In Her Niche Franchise Brand

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by Miri Offir, CEO of  911 Restoration

Finding a true passion in a career can seem like a myth to many who have settled into roles or even executive leadership positions that they don’t actually enjoy – with 45% of Americans noting that they ‘wouldn’t wish their job on their worst enemy’. Sometimes it takes time spent in various departments of a company or in a certain industry to get comfortable with and eventually enjoy the work, but once you’ve found the industry that sparks your career passion, how can you continue to excel from there?

As the CEO of a national restoration franchise, I take pride in what I do and feel fortunate that I have been able to reach new heights in an industry that I entered into with no prior background. Beginning as an office manager and working my way through different departments including marketing sales, customer service and operations over a decade ago, I didn’t anticipate the potential this industry and affiliation with a franchise brand would hold for me. Not only have I continuously learned from my colleagues with decades of experience in water, fire and other damage remediation services, but I have also built a team of supporters who encourage me to continue to thrive in my leadership role.

As I’ve settled into the C-Suite, several keys to success have become apparent to me as ways to enhance and expand the franchise network from corporate to local levels. Beginning your leadership journey with goal setting, implementing actionable tactics to achieve those goals and allowing your leadership style to evolve and adapt alongside your company will ultimately lead to career and business growth.

Identify the ‘North Star’ that You Want for Your Business

A common mistake in leading an expansive franchise network or major company is not having a clear vision beyond making money. It’s important to make money, so with that goal in mind, be sure to identify specific revenue targets and strategies for achieving them.

One way that I like to do this is through making ‘sub-goals’ and assigning them by department with actionable tactics for execution. Companies can easily fall short if they have great ideas and solid goals but lack tools for implementation. Evaluate your goals and sub-goals monthly and quarterly, collaborating with each department team to identify missing pieces, partial completions and successful strategies that could be repeated or slightly tweaked for the future. Get comfortable with the analysis of your goals and tactics so that none fall through the cracks while you’re building your brand.

With Brand Growth Comes Leadership Growth

As your brand grows from strategies you’ve implemented since taking on leadership responsibilities, your leadership style will grow as well – and possibly even developing completely new priorities or personality traits. When I first joined the restoration industry, I was introverted, yet I adapted as needed to get the job done. Over the years as I assumed new roles and managerial responsibilities, leadership shifted towards action and actually talking to others to identify challenges and proactively offering solutions.

One of the biggest benefits of being the leader of a brand is the opportunity to interact with and learn from people with diverse personalities and experiences. Titles can be so restrictive, and once you remove them to instead view your team from a human level, welcoming feedback and offering positive validation when working together to achieve goals can greatly benefit your brand. Interaction with those who are helping accomplish the ‘why’ behind your business and working together to complete the set goals enriches personal development and humanizes you as a leader.

Brand growth doesn’t happen overnight, but clear, actionable goal-setting is necessary to thrive. Focusing attention on the people who are driving change in your organization, alongside positivity and encouragement, contributes greatly. Even when approaching business challenges or addressing employee mistakes, I will always try to find the positive versus dwelling on, or worse, scolding someone or myself for something that can be improved in the long run. At the core of restoration, people remain – from the customers served to the franchisees representing the brand locally every day and throughout the corporate team. Everyone has the potential to learn from those around them, and when you take the time to do so, your leadership growth and business itself will thrive.

 

miri offir

Miri Offir is the chief executive officer of 911 Restoration. Under her leadership, 911 Restoration has transformed from a single location, water-damage-and-repair company to a nationwide franchise that works to provide customers with a rapid, empathetic response and clear communication in times of need. Miri’s gift for communication has allowed her to build lasting business relationships and thrive in her role as CEO at 911 Restoration. Thanks to Miri’s efforts, 911 Restoration is now synonymous with the “Fresh Start Company” a place that property owners can contact when they need peace of mind after a property disaster.

 

The Necessity Of Due Diligence Investigations: A Three-Phased Approach

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by Cynthia Hetherington, Founder and CEO of Hetherington Group and author of “OSINT: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence: Essential Resources for Critical Business Intelligence, 3rd Edition”.

Due diligence is a critical component in making smart choices and informed decisions, whether for personal, business, or legal purposes. Its intent is to protect people from being led down a road of disinformation, misinformation, or just patent lies.

Due diligence is now a volume game. Data is the single drop of water in an ocean of information that keeps expanding. The due diligence investigator’s job isn’t just to find that drop of water, but to find it twice — that’s how to substantiate or negate a claim.

For example, Yahoo pulled up short when vetting Scott Thompson for the CEO position. Yahoo could have taken a few more steps in verifying Thompson’s claim that he had a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, which he didn’t. When a news story surfaced that he lied about his education, that headline embarrassed Yahoo and caused fights with investors.

Unfortunately, phony doctors, lawyers, and industry leaders walk among us without holding the required credentials and qualifications to hold their job. To ensure a structured and effective investigation, a phased approach is often employed. This method not only clarifies the process for clients but also helps manage expectations and costs.

The three-phased approach to due diligence is a systematic process that enhances the quality and reliability of the investigation. The activities associated with each phase involve:

Phase One: Online Due Diligence

Phase One focuses on gathering online intelligence, laying the groundwork for further investigation. This phase involves using various online tools and resources to collect identifying data points about the subject.

Key activities include:

  • Internet research: Searching for general information and specific details about the subject.
  • Social media intelligence: Analyzing social media profiles to understand the subject’s public persona.
  • Open-source intelligence: Utilizing publicly available information from diverse sources.
  • Government databases: Accessing databases for records related to the subject.
  • Media searches: Reviewing local, national, and international media for relevant news.
  • Litigation research: Investigating any legal proceedings involving the subject.

A due diligence investigator has access to more than 3,000 databases, enabling a comprehensive background check on individuals and organizations. The findings are compiled into a detailed report covering personal identifiers, financial history, civil and criminal filings, and reputational standing. This report provides a foundation for deciding whether to proceed to Phase Two.

Phase Two: Boots-on-the-Ground Due Diligence

Phase Two involves more in-depth, on-the-ground investigation. This phase includes contacting references, conducting discreet interviews, and retrieving documents from various locations. It ensures thoroughness, especially in areas where online information is incomplete or inaccessible.

Key activities include:

  • Interviewing references: Engaging with both obvious and discreet contacts to gather insights.
  • Document retrieval: Collecting records from courts and other institutions.
  • Surveillance: Conducting discreet surveillance if necessary.

For investigations outside the United States, Phase Two is crucial due to limited online data and stricter privacy laws. Reports from this phase may lead to further actions or conclusions about the subject’s background.

Phase Three: Ongoing Monitoring

If Phase One or Two reveal ongoing concerns, Phase Three involves continuous monitoring and selective interviews. This phase is essential for situations that are still evolving or when initial findings raise additional questions.

Key activities include:

  • Behavior monitoring: Keeping track of the subject’s activities over time.
  • Continuous research: Regularly updating findings with new information.
  • Follow-up interviews: Conducting additional interviews as new information arises.

For example, monitoring a candidate for a CEO position might involve tracking their behavior and interviewing business associates to assess potential risks. Continuous monitoring can provide crucial updates and help clients make informed decisions.

Utilizing a phased approach to due diligence ensures a comprehensive, systematic investigation process. It allows investigators to manage expectations, control costs, and deliver thorough, reliable results. By breaking down the investigation into manageable phases, clients can understand the process better and make well-informed decisions based on the findings. Whether the intent is to unpack a company’s assets, unlock a person’s financial or criminal records, or discover just who isn’t telling the truth, due diligence is essential for mitigating risks and ensuring sound decision-making.

 

Cynthia Hetherington

Cynthia Hetherington, MLS, MSM, CFE, CII, OSC is the Founder and CEO of Hetherington Group, a consulting, publishing, managed services, and training firm that leads in due diligence, corporate intelligence, and cyber investigations. She provides specialized training for investigative professionals through the OSINT Academy, and has authored many industry-leading books on conducting cyber investigations, including her latest, “OSINT: The Authoritative Guide to Due Diligence: Essential Resources for Critical Business Intelligence, 3rd Edition”.

What Is Value-Driven Marketing?

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by JoAnne Gritter, COO, ddm marketing+communications

Marketing leaders understand the importance of authenticity and value alignment these days. But what does it take to transform these principles into a robust marketing strategy that resonates with both your company’s goals and your customers’ expectations? Amidst a backdrop of diminishing public trust in institutions, where skepticism is the norm, value-driven marketing emerges as a vital strategy. It enables organizations to become beacons of relevance and sincerity, making it an essential practice for businesses aiming to establish credibility and forge genuine connections in a discerning world.

At its heart, value-driven marketing is about forging meaningful connections. It’s a holistic approach that addresses the needs, concerns, and values of consumers. In a time where information is at everyone’s fingertips, consumers are seeking out brands that not only meet their needs but also reflect their personal ethos and contribute positively to the broader society.

The Statistical Landscape

The significance of value-driven marketing is underscored by compelling statistics. Persuasion Nation projects that by 2029, the global Big Data Analytics Market will soar to more than $650 billion, emphasizing the pivotal role of data in crafting marketing strategies that truly understand consumer behavior.

Furthermore, a resounding 64 percent of marketing executives firmly believe data-driven marketing is indispensable in today’s competitive environment. This strong consensus reflects a shift toward marketing strategies informed by consumer data, enabling the delivery of relevant and personalized experiences.

A Forbes-highlighted study reveals a telling trend: nearly half of consumers consistently choose brands that align with their personal values. This pattern transcends demographics, indicating a global movement towards value alignment.

In addition, Kantar’s Purpose Study shows that purpose-led brands have experienced a valuation surge of 175% over the past 12 years, dwarfing the 70% growth rate of brands with an uncertain role. This stark contrast underscores the tangible benefits of a value-driven marketing approach.

How to Keep Up

To navigate the currents of value-driven marketing, consider these top tips, each grounded in statistics and insights from reputable sources:

  • Adopt a data-driven mindset: Immerse yourself in your company’s data analytics to gain deeper insights into consumer behavior and preferences.
  • Align with consumer values: Ensure your brand’s messaging and actions reflect the values that matter most to your audience.
  • Focus on purpose: Clearly articulate your brand’s purpose and let it guide every marketing decision and communication.
  • Utilize value-driven content: Offer content that educates, informs, and enriches your audience, thereby establishing your brand as a trusted authority.
  • Engage in ethical marketing: Commit to transparency, honesty, and social responsibility, aligning your marketing practices with the highest ethical standards.
  • Measure and optimize: Continuously track and refine the performance of your campaigns, striving for increased effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Foster community engagement: Cultivate a vibrant community around your brand by actively engaging with customers across various platforms and listening to their feedback.
  • Showcase real impact: Share authentic stories and case studies that highlight the positive impact your brand has made on individuals and communities.

By integrating these tips into your marketing strategy, your efforts will resonate more deeply with your customers. Embracing value-driven marketing not only nurtures customer loyalty but also carves out a competitive advantage. Reports indicate that businesses leveraging big data have enjoyed an 8 percent increase in profits and a 10 percent reduction in costs, showcasing the power of data-informed strategies.

The rise of value-driven marketing is a clear indication of the shifting dynamics in consumer-brand relationships. By prioritizing values, ethics, and personal relevance, brands can build stronger bonds with their audience, paving the way for sustainable growth and success. Looking ahead, it’s evident that value-driven marketing will continue to be a defining force in how businesses connect with their customers.

Suggested alternative conclusion

The rise of value-driven marketing is a clear indication of the shifting dynamics in consumer-brand relationships. It’s a movement that places importance on values, ethics, and personal connection, enabling brands to forge deeper relationships with their audience. For businesses, this represents a prime opportunity to distinguish themselves by embracing value-driven principles. Looking forward, the trajectory is clear: value-driven marketing will remain a cornerstone in the evolving narrative of customer engagement, charting a course for renewed trust and enduring partnerships in a market that values discernment.

 

JoAnne Gritter

JoAnne Gritter is Chief Operations Officer with ddm marketing + communications, a leading marketing agency for highly complex and highly regulated industries. JoAnne is responsible for overseeing and facilitating collaboration between all major functional areas at ddm, including Finance, Human Resources, IT, Operations, Sales and Marketing.

 

Tips and Tricks To Master The Art Of Time Management (And Why It Matters)

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by Katie Sandler

Each day, if we are lucky, we get 1,440 minutes to do what we want. That’s what one day is made up of, yet if we had an accurate snapshot of how we squander those minutes, we’d probably be surprised and disappointed. Most of us take those minutes for granted, and we end up using them on mindless things, neglecting what we really need to do. The good news is that there is an art of time management. It is a skill that is worth learning, one that can be developed, and ultimately leads to greater life satisfaction.

Time is our greatest currency and something we must tend to and treat well. When we improve our time management skills, it spills over into every facet of our lives – no one ever regrets bettering their how they organize and use their time. 

Some may wonder if it is even possible to manage time and whether or not it makes a difference. Researchers set out to answer these questions, too, and they shared their findings in a 2021 issue of the journal PLoS One. They conducted a meta-analysis to review the studies done on time management. They found that time management is moderately related to job performance, academic achievement, and wellbeing. They report that being skilled in time management can help people do better at work, get top grades in school, contribute to a life well lived, and nurture one’s psychological wellbeing. All in all, organizing time effectively leads to a decrease in stress and an increase in productivity and life satisfaction. 

After making the case for why practicing the art of time management is worthwhile, the next step is to determine how one goes about it. Most people are not adequately taught time management skills during their youth, and they spend years in adulthood learning more about them as well. There are plenty of things that people can do, however, to master the art of time management. 

By working on time management skills, we can start working smarter rather than harder. We can find more time in our days to spend with those we love or do what we love, and we can help reduce the stress in our lives. It will also help us live more intentionally and lose the guilt we carry around for not getting everything done. 

Here are some tips and tricks for mastering the art of time management: 

Create lists.

It is essential to have a designated to-do list. Lists are a proven method of helping people achieve more, stay on task, and be more efficient. Make a list of what needs to be done each day.

Prioritize.

Everyone has a lot on their plate, including jobs, families, chores, invitations, etc. We have to learn to prioritize and do the most important things first, let some things fall off the list, and say no to some things.

Calendar.

Use a calendar system to help you stay on top of what needs to be done, what is coming up, and what plans are made. This will help prevent people from being stressed out when they realize they forgot about certain things that they are supposed to be doing. Using a calendar system helps people be more efficient. 

Do the hard things first.

When we have a list of things to do, we should get the most challenging thing out of the way first. This way, we feel a sense of accomplishment and can move through the rest of the list more quickly.

Delegate.

There are many things that can be delegated, but too often, we try to take it all on ourselves. Learn to delegate so the workload is spread around, and yet everything still gets done.

Practice the Pomodoro technique.

This popular technique involves spending 25 minutes working on a task and then taking a 5-minute break. This method helps us stay focused on the work because we get a little break after the block of focused time. After four rounds of this, take a 20-25-minute break.

Use technology.

Numerous technology tools can help people become more productive. People should find ones that fit their lifestyle and incorporate them into their lives.

Practice self-care.

Making time for self-care will help reduce stress, improve happiness, and keep people feeling their best. Whether getting a massage, steadily working out, or taking some downtime to read, self-care is essential for our wellbeing.

Remember Parkinson’s law.

This law says that we will take the time we set for something. For example, if 30 minutes are allotted for an activity, we will usually take all 30 minutes to do it. Yet we could take the same task and give ourselves 20 minutes, and we will still get it done in that time. Work tends to expand to fit the time that has been allotted for it, so focus on allotting less time for each task. 

The impact that effective time management has on our lives is so great that it cannot be understated or ignored. We have to make it a focus in our lives to gain the benefits that come with it. Our time is our greatest gift, let’s be more mindful about it and see where that gets us.

 

Katie Sandler is an impact and private wellness coach. She offers retreats around the world, as well as private coaching and corporate impact coaching opportunities. She focuses on helping people become more successful, overcome adversity, and reach new career goals. She offers one-on-one coaching and corporate opportunities, as well as wellness and impact retreats.

 

9 Benefits Of Attaining A Master’s Degree In The 21st Century

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As the world slowly progresses, the demand for higher education is becoming more apparent than ever. While a bachelor’s degree was once seen as the key to success, now employers are increasingly seeking out applicants with master’s degrees. This is because a master’s degree demonstrates not only a higher level of education but also a greater level of commitment to one’s chosen field.

So, if you’re thinking of going to grad school, here are 9 benefits that may convince you it’s the right decision.

1. You’ll improve your earning potential.

As much as we may want to deny it, money is a big factor in deciding whether or not to attend grad school. And the fact is, people with higher levels of education do tend to earn more money. With a master’s degree, you can expect to earn 20% more than you would with a bachelor’s degree, and this number only goes up the longer you stay in the workforce.

2. More job opportunities.

In addition to earning more money, having a master’s degree also opens up more job opportunities. This is especially true if you’re looking to enter a competitive field. When you enroll in a master’s program, you’re signaling to potential employers that you’re willing to put in the extra work to be the best at what you do. It’s all part of career planning.

3. You’ll learn new things.

One of the best parts about going back to school is that you get to learn new things. Whether you’re learning about a new subject or expanding your knowledge in a familiar one, grad school is an opportunity to challenge yourself intellectually.

For example, if you enroll in an MPH online program, you’ll take classes on a variety of topics related to public health. This will not only give you a more well-rounded education but also help you develop a broader skillset.

4. Developing new relationships.

When you attend grad school, you’ll have the opportunity to develop relationships with people who share your interests and passions. These relationships can last a lifetime and may even lead to professional opportunities down the road.

In addition to making friends, you’ll also get to network with professors and other professionals in your field. These relationships can be extremely helpful as you progress in your career. They allow you to learn from the experiences of others and get advice on everything from job opportunities to finding a mentor.

5. Open yourself up to new experiences.

Grad school is a time for personal growth. You’ll be challenged academically, but you’ll also have the opportunity to explore new things and expand your horizons.

This may mean taking on leadership roles in student organizations, participating in research projects, or studying abroad. Whatever you do, make sure to take advantage of the opportunities available to you and step outside your comfort zone.

6. Improve your critical thinking skills.

One of the most important skills you’ll develop in grad school is critical thinking. This skill is essential in any field and will help you succeed in your career. Critical thinking involves the ability to analyze problems and make sound decisions. It’s an important skill to have in any field, but it’s especially important if you’re planning to pursue a career in research or academia.

7. Get hands-on experience.

Have you ever wished you could get paid to do what you love? Well, grad school may be your chance. Many graduate programs offer opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in their field. This may include internships, research projects, or teaching assistant positions.

Not only will you get paid (in most cases), but you’ll also get the chance to apply what you’re learning in the classroom to real-world situations.

8. Advance your career.

Whether you’re looking to change careers or move up in your current organization, grad school can help you achieve your goals. In many cases, advanced degrees are required for certain positions. For example, you’ll need a law degree to become a lawyer or a medical degree to become a doctor.

But even if you’re not looking to change careers, grad school can still help you move up the ladder. Many organizations view advanced degrees as a sign of commitment and leadership and are more likely to promote employees who have them.

9. Pursue your passion.

One of the best reasons to go to grad school is to pursue your passion. If you have a specific interest that you want to explore in-depth, grad school is the perfect place to do it.

For example, if you’re passionate about environmental issues, you could enroll in a graduate program in environmental science or public policy. Or if you’re interested in history, you could study for a degree in museum studies or historic preservation. Whatever your passion, there’s a good chance you can pursue it in grad school.

Graduate school is a great way to further your education and career. But it’s also an opportunity to pursue your passions, make new friends, and expand your horizons. If you’re considering grad school, weigh all the benefits before making your decision.

 

What Is ‘AI Washing’ And How Can We Stop It?

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by Ed Watal, Founder & Principal at Intellibus

Amid the boom in artificial intelligence’s popularity, some wrongdoers have decided to capitalize on this trend under false pretenses. This practice of making false claims about the use of AI technology has come to be known as “AI washing.” 

AI washing is a misleading, unethical marketing practice that attempts to cash in on a popular trend without offering the benefits of this exciting new technology. Yet, given how novel artificial intelligence technology is, it can be difficult for the average consumer to distinguish between legitimate and illegitimate claims about AI use.

Examples of AI washing

One of the most common examples of AI washing is mislabeling other automated technology as AI. Because many people don’t understand the difference between traditional algorithms and artificial intelligence models, some companies will attempt to pass off the former as the latter with unsuspecting consumers. This deceitful practice abuses the misinformation around artificial intelligence technology.

However, some businesses have been found to conduct an even more duplicitous form of AI washing by claiming to use AI when there is little to no integration of the technology in their offering. Many companies like to use buzzwords like “AI-powered” to describe their products or services when their use of artificial intelligence technology is minimal, incidental, or in its early stages.

Why AI washing is a harmful practice

Of course, the most obvious victims of AI washing are the consumers that companies are directly defrauding. If a consumer eager to hop onto the AI train is misled by AI washing into thinking that a product or service offers more of the technology’s advantages than it actually does, they will spend their hard-earned money on a product or service that does not deliver on its promises.

It isn’t just consumers who are hurt by AI washing, though, as the practice has a massively negative impact on the market as a whole. Any money invested in or spent by consumers on products that misrepresent their use of artificial intelligence could be going to innovators who are making legitimate strides to push the technology forward.

However, perhaps the most damaging effect of AI washing is that it will erode the public’s trust in this emerging technology. Because AI is still in its early stages and people are still exploring its capabilities — along with its consequences — many are still reluctant to embrace this new technology with open arms. When the public’s perception of AI is based on misleading products or services that underperform due to their false claims regarding artificial intelligence, they are unlikely to trust future projects that make similar claims.

How we can stop AI washing

Due to the consequences of AI washing, innovators in the artificial intelligence space must push for increased transparency and honesty in products and services using the technology. For a variety of reasons — from the technology itself being difficult to understand to companies’ desire to protect their IP — businesses tend to be somewhat cryptic with their explanations of their use of AI. To thwart AI washing, we must encourage businesses to clearly and understandably explain their use of artificial intelligence and provide evidence of its use when available.

This transparency can arguably only be achieved through oversight. Leaders in the AI sector have the opportunity to develop industry-wide standards and benchmarks that can be used to evaluate AI products and claims. For instance, certification bodies could offer a trustworthy mark of authenticity to help consumers better understand and approach the technology. Outside the industry, regulatory bodies like the SEC can end this practice by enforcing more stringent verification processes and penalties for false claims.

That being said, perhaps the most potent way we can fight against wrongdoers using AI washing to gain an unfair advantage for their business is by improving education and awareness around the practice. When people are more aware of the benefits, features, and shortcomings of legitimate AI products, they are much less likely to fall victim to deceptive claims. Thus, by increasing the discourse around AI, we can help people be more prepared to evaluate AI products for themselves.

While artificial intelligence has the potential to help people and businesses alike, AI washing poses a significant threat to the public’s acceptance of this exciting and innovative technology. By leveraging false claims about the use of AI technology, businesses practicing AI washing distract from and erode trust in legitimate artificial intelligence ventures. Ending this harmful and deceitful practice is key to creating a landscape where AI can be embraced as a transformative force.

 

Ed WatalEd Watal is the founder and principal of Intellibus. He regularly serves as a board advisor to the world’s largest financial institutions. C-level executives rely on him for IT strategy & architecture due to his business acumen & deep IT knowledge. He has also built and sold several Tech & AI startups. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, he worked in some of the largest global financial institutions, including RBS, Deutsche Bank, and Citigroup. He is the author of numerous articles and one of the defining books on cloud fundamentals called ‘Cloud Basics.’

 

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