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22 Entrepreneurs Reveal The Companies They Admire Most For Innovation

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 12:16:51 -0400

Innovative is a word often used to describe successful companies. It drives media attention and fosters customer retention rate, which is why most companies strive to have it in their mission statement. It seeks to solve customer problems in a better and modern way and helping such companies edge the competition. One of the companies that's known for innovation is Apple.

Here’s what entrepreneurs had to say about the companies they admire for their innovation.

#1- Apple

Photo Credit: Aiden Cole

The company I admire the most is Apple. Apple always finds new ways to produce what consumers want whether it's an iPhone with newer features or iPads that appeal to all ages. COVID-19 was also a key driver to innovation as many people are working from home and need reliable tech equipment.

Thanks to Aiden Cole, HIDE!

#2- Tesla

Photo Credit: Christina Giaquinto

One of the most innovative companies of 2021 is without a shadow of doubt, Tesla. It is also one of my most admired companies. Being one of the most eccentric billionaires, Elon Musk has shaped Tesla into a multi-billion dollar company. Tesla Tesla invented a successful business model for bringing compelling electric cars to the market. The reason for its success is due to not holding ‘compromises’ as an option. Teams under Tesla wanted to make an “electric car” without compromises, which is why the Tesla Roadster is designed to beat a gasoline sports car like a Porsche or Ferrari in a head-to-head showdown. Their focus on technology is also a key role in their innovation. Tesla’s technology is not only used by Tesla, it is also used by other car manufacturers like Toyota, Daimler, and Mercedes-Benz. Tesla has always put a huge emphasis on product development and technological advancement. It has whole teams dedicated to R&D and invests regularly to ensure it's at the top of the food chain.

Thanks to Christina Giaquinto, Modular Closets!

#3- Shopify

Photo Credit: Herman Hibber

Because they rely solely on foot traffic, tiny brick-and-mortar businesses on Main Street suffered severely when the pandemic lockdowns began. Shopify swiftly came in with solutions that allowed these firms to turn their point-of-sale terminals into e-commerce storefronts and begin online operations the same day. Shopify then featured these local businesses in its Shop app, allowing consumers to support their local economy while shopping online. It ended the year with a collaboration that allows businesses to take Alipay payments and a TikTok plugin that allows them to make shoppable advertisements, I believe.

Thanks to Herman Hibbert, Leaf Gutter Guards!

#4- IBM

Photo Credit: Andre Kazimierski

I have always been impressed by the innovation of IBM. They dedicate themselves to constant innovation in not only the technology and products that they offer to the public, but as a corporate entity as well. Overtime they have rebranded and recreated themselves to remain a force in the tech world, demonstrating that they are not going anywhere. Other companies with big names like Facebook and Google are often more quickly credited for their innovation, but IBM maintains innovating just as much without getting the same recognition.

Thanks to Andre Kazimierski, Improovy!

#5- Shiseido

Photo Credit: Rosi Ross

The company I admire the most for innovation is Shiseido, not only this Japanese company have had the ability to attract customers in different markets and different demographics, also do the development of raw materials and beauty technology mixing Japanese ingredients found locally with technology found globally. These key elements allow them to hold strong to their Japanese roots while moving forward on applying high tech for beauty and skincare. When it comes to their company inner values, as Japan is a really compressed yet dense culture, all members within the company on the HQ must speak good English as this expands the understanding of the company culture globally, the language requirement has been a key ingredient to the company understanding of other cultures and also has influenced their own development as increased their value in other markets. This is an added cultural value that all other companies should take into account today, as we are more globalized than before understanding the need of expanding our vision, experiences, and views of the world within our team members and leaders is key to be on top of the game.

Thanks to Rosi Ross, Ni Hao Babe!

#6- Airbnb

Photo Credit: David Fernandez

Airbnb is the firm that I appreciate the most in terms of creativity and innovation because it has completely transformed an industry and changed our travel patterns. While some people had previously rented out their houses, Airbnb organized the process, allowing homeowners to enhance the use of their private residences by incentivizing its customers to refer their friends to the platform. Even though they don't own any rental properties, they've managed to become the first place people look for lodging when planning a trip.

Thanks to David Fernandez, Capital Solutions!

#7- Virgin Group

Photo Credit: Darko Ivanoski

I have always admired and been amazed by successful entrepreneurs who don't have a university degree. Richard Branson's phenomenal Virgin group keeps innovating and progressing. Virgin Group has always been at the forefront of popular culture business ventures. From music to finance, airlines and now offering flights to the public into space. They're an edgy group and very inspiring for those of us with big ambitions within the travel
industry.

Thanks to Darko Ivanoski, ESTAForm.org!

#8- Zoom!

Photo Credit: Curtis Lawson

Before the COVID-19 epidemic, this platform was a great video conferencing tool. As we continue to work from home, it has become an essential tool for remote employees. Zoom connects us professionally and personally on all of our mobile and desktop devices. This software enables us to communicate with coworkers and connect with family members that we hope to see safely again soon.

Thanks to Curtis Lawson, Project Gunner!

#9- Basecamp

Photo Credit: Dr. Michael K. Newman

Basecamp is a business that I respect much for what they've accomplished and who they've become. They moved from being a design firm to creating their successful product, which they then scaled and made available to millions. They invented Ruby on Rails, were one of the earliest proponents of remote work, and took customer service to new heights. Basecamp is one of the few companies in our business that we appreciate.

Thanks to Dr. Michael K. Newman

#10- Mindbody

Photo Credit: Matthew Scarfo

Mindbody is a shining example of a business that used innovation and quick thinking to turn negative circumstances into an incredible new revenue stream. The brand was founded as a software to assist with setting up appointments at in-person health centers and fitness studios, but when the pandemic hit, Mindbody delved headfirst into the world of virtual workouts and classes, taking advantage of the massive earning potential there. As a health and fitness entrepreneur myself, I look up to the folks at Mindbody for leading the charge of ingenuity it takes to expand the fitness industry from in-person gyms and studios to more remote and digital formats. However, this company is a positive example of innovation for any industry, and shows how bad situations brought on by the pandemic or any other setback can be turned into something extraordinarily positive with enough creativity.

Thanks to Matthew Scarfo, Lift Vault!

#11- Microsoft

Photo Credit: Sally Stevens

Since I am technologically savvy, I am interested in what Microsoft has to offer. This corporation is regarded for its most innovative products because they revolutionized the game of PC operating systems. Windows XP showed that this corporation has enormous potential and that its technological achievements are at the cutting edge. They have a unique selling point because Microsoft is one of the top technology companies globally
that offers them a competitive advantage. Another thing I appreciate about this firm is its adaptability to change and expansion into new areas, as they entered the mobile and gaming sectors and were able to gain a big market share, proving their success. Lastly, Microsoft Office remains the most popular corporate productivity software program. It demonstrates that they have marked their existence by being so innovative.

Thanks to Sally Stevens, FastPeopleSearch.io!

#12- Figma

Photo Credit: Dennis Lenard

For the past couple of years, Figma has gained the love and support of designers worldwide. With every update and new feature, the product becomes more and more useful while still managing to attract thousands of novice users. The way they balance advanced functionalities and ease of use proves that they're a customer obsessed organization. Perhaps the fact that Figma knows it's making a product for designers motivates them to go above and beyond in terms of user experience. Regardless, they're doing an incredible job.

Thanks to Dennis Lenard, Creative Navy UX Agency!

#13- Google

Photo Credit: Ravi Davda

I love Google. Partly because our business revolves around Google, but mainly because of how innovative they are. Google wasn't the first search engine around. But it's crazy how popular it's become. At the same time, it's such a simple concept. They've become a verb – to Google. That's how much they've monopolized the market. Since this, they've also expanded into many different markets, and I'm excited to see what's next. What impresses me the most is how they start with a beta product. If it does well, they continue to iterate until it's the best in the world. If not, they simply scrap it.

Thanks to Ravi Davda, Rockstar Marketing!

#14- Walt Disney

Photo Credit: Jeremy Goldman

I really admire the Walt Disney empire in terms of innovation. As time passes, this company is moving ahead more and more. For me, it's a live example of agile and sustainable business. In fact, it inspires me, and I learned a lot from its innovation. I understand how innovation, creativity, and love together are magic potions to guarantee business thriving. It succeeds in occupying a lovely part in every child's memory; including me when I was a kid and that's the core idea of an innovative successful business.

Thanks to Jeremy Goldman, FUTUREPROOF!

#15- Walmart

CEO Hacks - Human Resources & Human Capital

IAM1136- Entrepreneur Makes Business Fun

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:16:55 -0400

David Addi is Always Fired Up. Literally and figuratively. David helps clients find swag that'll inspire them and get them FIRED UP!

CEO Hack: Gmail extension- Boomerang
CEO Nugget: Don't give up too early, stick in the business for as long as possible
CEO Defined: Letting go of some things and delegating a little more

Website: https://fireduppromos.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaddi/

Check out one of our favorite CEO Hack’s Audible. Get your free audiobook and check out more of our favorite CEO Hacks HERE

The post IAM1136- Entrepreneur Makes Business Fun appeared first on I AM CEO Podcast.

6 Ways Businesses Can Attract (And Keep) Talented Graduates

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 09:16:05 -0400

To attract the most talented young college graduates, businesses need more than just an intriguing offer with a large figure attached. Appealing to post-grad talent requires a creative approach that prioritises their wellbeing in the workplace today, while also appealing to their forward-thinking expectations of personal growth for tomorrow.

So here’s how businesses can create a connected office culture that helps recruit top college grads. Plus, by keeping them involved and interested during the onboarding process, you can also ensure they’ll remain committed over the long term.

Communicate your mission

It’s long been accepted that someone’s attitude, values, passion, and intelligence are just as important as their skillset. So why is the predominant approach to hiring based almost solely on a candidate’s resume? This is backwards from how it should be. It’s therefore important to convey the purpose and mission of your company to each graduate. Not only so that they can have an understanding, but also to ensure they share the same work ethic, moral behaviour, attention to detail, and overall vision. So, always consider each interaction with potential hires as an opportunity to ensure their values are a good match for the mission of your company.

Provide a flexible environment

With the number of baby boomers leaving the workforce increasing exponentially, employers need to become much more open-minded to non-traditional workplaces. Providing employees with a flexible workplace helps with both retaining and attracting graduating talent. In fact, most graduates are looking for relatively low-cost benefits, such as flexible hours and the option of working from home.

Daniel Ndukwu, cofounder of GrowthBoost, has this to say on offering a flexible workplace for his team – “While COVID-19 has had a negative impact on many industries, other industries have adapted, and it’s the year of the employee. People, especially the younger generation, want more than a large salary and instead want meaning behind their work and work-life balance. The employer that can provide one or both is the one that will continue to win top talent and push their organization forward. Things like generous maternity leave, remote work, and the freedom to make decisions on their own will impact how employees perceive the working environment, for better or for worse.”

So, by creating a flexible working environment, not only will you attract more employees who thrive in these conditions, but your teams will also end up contributing together better as well. There’s a lot to be said for the culture of working hard with flexibility.

Focus on their onboarding training

You need more than just a streamlined recruiting process with an informative onboarding strategy when wooing candidates, though that will obviously help set things in place for what's ahead. For a truly competitive edge over your competition, businesses need to lure the top graduating talent by presenting them with an exciting onboarding that transitions them from initial candidate to new employee.

Tawni Cranz, Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, has this to say about the importance of onboarding in a large company to ensure the internal culture is preserved – “Once you get in, then you experience the culture and marinate in it. But now we have these orientation meetings with 10 people, and it’s highly likely that six of them are new. If six of them are new, you need to do something to accelerate that feeling of marinating in the culture.”

The entire onboarding process should be treated with the same amount of enthusiasm as you expect from your new hire, if not more. It should feel like the momentum during onboarding becomes like a natural handoff which continues to fuel excitement for their new role that extends well beyond their first day on the job.

Offer a career path

With employee turnover costs so high, it’s necessary to show graduates a clear path for career progression mapped out from the outset. This will be highly valued by top graduates, as it provides them with transparency for how where they can be and when, as long as they contribute to the success of your company.

Lauren Sommer, director of Moi Moi Fine Jewellery, Australia’s leading Moissanite and Lab Grown Diamond jeweller, has this to say on how internships can benefit graduates once they gradate – “One of the best ways graduates can get practical workplace experience is to take up internships before they graduate. Learning theory in class is one thing, but nothing beats the skills you pick up when you have to deal with customers and real life business problems that come up everyday.”

Plus by developing these strategies early on, you can remain competitive with other firms while also combating the possibility of graduates experiencing job dissatisfaction. Incorporating a mentoring programme is another effective way of shaping, moulding, and developing graduates for career progression into higher roles and promotions in future.

Create a safe work environment

By creating a safe and enjoyable work environment, graduates can focus on collaborative connections with a sense of belonging they’ll want to become a part of. In other words, you need to find ways to create a supportive and motivating environment where each member you’re your team can work together as part of the same group. You want more of a community office space than having people working separately in sectioned departments on their own specific workload.

Partner with colleges

Today's graduates gravitate toward businesses who have spent time with them from early on in their schooling. Therefore, building meaningful partnerships within the college system is crucial for providing engagement opportunities with the best students well before graduation day. This means doing more than just meeting with professors a few weeks before they’re about to graduate. You need to show them that you are well-known as an expert in your field, your company is a step up in their knowledge, and that you are interested in them. This means creating lasting connections with teachers and professors, so you can make relevant presentations to classes. While this adds a feeling of relevancy, familiarity, and approachability to your firm, professors can also give you a heads up about their standout students in each graduating class.

Final thoughts

These potential employees bring fantastic enthusiasm and fresh perspectives which genuinely helps value-add and infuse vitality of new life into any company. That’s the best part about hiring recent graduates. They understand the latest technologies and are across how their generation of consumers think. So, as long as you have strategies to attract and retain these potential employees, your business can look forward to a successful and lengthy working relationship with your new top graduates.

Guest post courtesy of Felix Yim

IAM1135- Prison Reform Activist Helps Shift the Prison Paradigm

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 06:16:50 -0400

Dr. Karen Gedney is an Internal Medicine Specialist who was placed in a male prison to do a four-year payback for a scholarship she received and turned it into a calling that lasted 30 years. When she left that career she started her business, DRG Consulting, LLC and became a speaker, prison reform activist, expert medical witness and author of, '30 years Behind Bars,' Trials of a Prison Doctor.

CEO Hack: My mentor and getting her book out
CEO Nugget: “Rewiring & Refiring” and remembering your why
CEO Defined: You have this

Website: https://www.discoverdrg.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-gedney

Facebook: https:/www.facebook.com/KarenGedneyMD/

Check out one of our favorite CEO Hack’s Audible. Get your free audiobook and check out more of our favorite CEO Hacks HERE

The post IAM1135- Prison Reform Activist Helps Shift the Prison Paradigm appeared first on I AM CEO Podcast.

Alibaba.com Launches Its First-Ever Grant Program

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 22:59:37 -0400

One of the things that CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business owners must consider is capital. Access to capital often can be the difference between being a successful digital entrepreneur and struggling to “turn the corner.” It’s important to be resourceful, but maybe just as vital to success is having the resources to take your vision and …

Monday Motivation: KEEP GOING – The Most Powerful Motivational Speech

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:16:50 -0400

This motivational video is to help CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners start the week off inspired to become great.

Here are some takeaways from the video:

Get back in the driver's seat
Be tougher than your life
You can't get stronger being easy
Show up ready to work

The post Monday Motivation: KEEP GOING – The Most Powerful Motivational Speech appeared first on Hearpreneur.

IAM1134- Entrepreneur Shares Raw Lessons of his Journey

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 06:16:41 -0400

Jake Jorgovan is a Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Podcaster and Business Advisor.

He is the Founder of Content Allies and Lead Cookie. Through these companies he has generated $40M+ in sales for his clients. Jake is the host of the Working Without Pants Podcast, and Leaders of B2B Podcast. He also shares the raw lessons of his entrepreneurial journey at Jake-Jorgovan.com.

Jake’s professional focus is to build companies that enable freedom of time and financial profitability. He does that by being an active entrepreneur in the trenches and through training others on entrepreneurship, leadership, sales & marketing.

Jake has degree in entrepreneurship from Belmont University and has been awarded Nashville’s Youth Entrepreneur of the Year. He has spoken at conferences such as SXSW and has been featured in publications such as Inc & Forbes.

CEO Hack: Guided framework of morning questions and daily reflections/journaling
CEO Nugget: Your business is a reflection of yourself
CEO Defined: Building a business that can exist and run without you

Website: https://jake-jorgovan.com/

https://contentallies.com/

https://jake-jorgovan.com/blog/top-podcast-production-companies-services

Check out one of our favorite CEO Hack’s Audible. Get your free audiobook and check out more of our favorite CEO Hacks HERE

The post IAM1134- Entrepreneur Shares Raw Lessons of his Journey appeared first on I AM CEO Podcast.

IAM1133- Founder Helps Companies Improve their Hiring Practices

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 17:21:37 -0400

Hilliary Turnipseed, Founder of Hill Street Strategies, is an experienced talent acquisition leader, with a deep background in early-stage technology startups and social impact organizations. She seamlessly integrates diversity, equity and inclusion strategies into her client needs, with an emphasis on improving team performance, creating frameworks and meaningful employee engagement. She takes a strengths-based, human design approach to identifying and retaining top talent.

CEO Hack: Self-awareness and looking up to human design
CEO Nugget: If something doesn't make sense, then it's not true
CEO Defined: Taking control of your life and creating the change we want to see

Website: http://www.hillstreetstrategies.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilliaryturnipseed/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hilliaryt

Check out one of our favorite

Listen to the full podcast. This is Originally posted here.

The post IAM1133- Founder Helps Companies Improve their Hiring Practices appeared first on Black Wall Street.

26 Entrepreneurs Explain The Essential Skills One Needs To Be a CEO

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 12:16:02 -0400

There are skills one has to adapt to be an effective and efficient CEO and anyone can be a CEO. “It’s within everyone’s grasp to be a CEO” Martha Stewart. The most common skills are decision making being the leader of the team and communication. Some CEOs are born with skills while others have to acquire them through consistent practice. As a CEO, you have to remind yourself its not always about you and practice servant-leadership in most cases. We asked entrepreneurs what critical skills one must have to be a CEO and here are the awesome responses.

#1- Soft skills

Photo Credit: Michelle Ebbin

As a CEO of a business, your role is to embody its purpose and realize it through your business practices, management, hiring and culture. To achieve this requires certain soft skills that are hard to teach and rare to find. You must have and always work on visualizing as a skill: how do you visualize your purpose as a profitable business? When we talk about leaders having a vision, we mean the ability to visualize the future and purpose of your business, and translate that into tangible, achievable goals and phases.

Thanks to Michelle Ebbin, Jettproof!

#2- Ambition and vision

Photo Credit: Stewart McGrenary

There is no alternative for a burning desire to accomplish something significant, significant, and transformative. The word ‘ambition' has a bad reputation. Ambition is a lovely thing when it is directed toward the appropriate vision and fueled by the correct drive. Ambition is contagious, magnetic, and instills confidence in others around you when you show that you understand where you should be going. Leaders seek to lead by example, convey their vision, and help their employees view themselves as part of a bright future. This attribute distinguishes exceptional organizations from those who will miss out on the huge opportunities that await in 2022.

Thanks to Stewart McGrenary, Freedom Mobiles!

#3- Awareness and emotional intelligence

Photo Credit: Brittney-Nichole Connor-Savarda

Without awareness and emotional intelligence, it's near impossible to be an effective leader and decision-maker. Awareness is the foundation of any skill, because it allows us to assess our level of knowledge, and identify our strengths and weaknesses. When we pair awareness with emotional intelligence, we're able to assess how our experiences and beliefs influence our decisions, how we interact with others, and how we're perceived by others (stakeholders, employees, etc.). When we develop our emotional intelligence, were better able to control our impulse to react, and refrain from making irrational or hasty decisions. Additionally, we're able to connect with others on a level that fosters empathy and sparks innovation.

Thanks to Brittney-Nichole Connor-Savarda, Catalyst 4 Change LLC!

#4- Ability to delegate tasks

Photo Credit: Amra Beganovich

In my personal experience, the ability to delegate tasks, take responsibility, be decisive and responsive to change are all characteristics of being a CEO. One of the most important qualities is the ability to delegate work so that other people can apply their skills and maximize their productivity. This might include mentoring high performers or assigning lower-level tasks where someone excels ahead of others. It also entails being decisive – recognizing what needs to be done ahead of time and acting on it before delays arise. CEOs also need an excellent understanding of their business partners, employees, shareholders and the external environment/negotiators
that play into its success or failure.

Thanks to Amra Beganovich, Amra & Elma’s!

#5- Ability to read people

Photo Credit: Phillip Lew

I believe one of the most essential skills one needs to possess in order to be a CEO is the ability to read people. As a CEO you need to know what the strengths of your people are, what they're passionate about, what roles within your organization they love doing, and what motivates them to perform at their best. This will allow you to fill key positions within your company with the right people and this will lead to a more efficient and effective team that ultimately results in a successful business.

Thanks to Phillip Lew, C9 Staff!

#6- An attitude toward cohesion

Photo Credit: David Aylor

Hierarchical business structures are outdated and rapidly becoming systems of the past as we lean into new hybrid work models and fewer middle management positions. A modern CEO needs to develop a positive attitude and aptitude to create a space where strategic decision-making includes every team member. By learning how to work with a team rather than direct a team and take the initiative of other employees, a CEO can build up success along with a more tightly-knit team.

Thanks to David Aylor, David Aylor Law Offices!

#7- Several skills

Photo Credit: Benjamin Stenson

Let me divide my thoughts into sections. First, they need to be knowledgeable about their organization's purpose, vision, and values. Second, they need to be able to manage employees effectively. Third, they need solid communication skills so that they can convey their vision and values and get people to adhere to them. Fourth, they need to be able to make rational business decisions. Finally, they need to be able to manage money in order to ensure that their company will succeed. If you are looking for a way to advance in your career, then you can do so by acquiring these essential skills.

Thanks to Benjamin Stenson, The Norsemen!

#8- Self-awareness

Photo Credit: Andre Kazimierski

Being a successful CEO requires self-awareness, and those who lack this skill are often the ones who lead their company’s down the wrong path or create a negative company culture. Self-awareness is key for any form of leader – it keeps them grounded and helps them realize their own strengths AND weaknesses. Every CEO will bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table, and those who understand what theirs are will be able to better harness them and lead accordingly. A CEO who is not self-aware may also place themselves above their employees instead of working for and with them, which will negatively impact the culture and environment of the
company.

Thanks to Andre Kazimierski, Improovy!

#9- Borderline micromanagement

Photo Credit: Cameron Miller

I say “borderline” since it’s unhealthy for your team if you get your hands on everything. However, you need to at least have the urge to micromanage everything. This means you have to care about every single detail and how it affects the whole picture. In my experience, it’s far easier to control the urge to micromanage than to try to get more involved when that’s not naturally your style.

Thanks to Cameron Miller

#10- Adaptability

Photo Credit: Johannes Larsson

Adaptability is a non-negotiable skill that a high-performing CEO should possess. As a CEO, you need to solve complex organizational, management, and operational problems that arise in the organization. In this scenario, CEOs need to possess some level of adaptivity to respond to the situation appropriately. An unadaptable CEO doesn’t know how to respond to things they’re not familiar with, leading to poor decision-making and solutions. The lack of adaptability would result in poor handling of new problems. As a result, it can negatively impact the performance of the business.

Thanks to Johannes Larsson, Financer.com!

#11- Being fearless, creative and innovative

Photo Credit: Joe Flanagan

Being at the helm of an organization, a CEOs decisions and style of leadership impact the company and the people working under them. Therefore, they need to have an approachable personality. Respect is better than fear. A leadership based on fear isn’t the best. But those who respect you will jump with you over a cliff. So to say! Being ethical is also vital. Being fearless, creative and innovative are skills that go hand-in-hand. As the leader of an organization, one might be called upon to make difficult decisions and second-guessing oneself is not an admirable quality. Innovation also calls one to be open-minded. In today’s world things are changing at an extremely fast pace, business disruptions are everyday occurrences, and as a CEO, accepting that times are changing is important. Poor decision-making due to lack of open-mindedness can also lead to alienation of your company due to lack of foresight which should be avoided. In all these necessary skills, what comes out as an umbrella skill is one of good leadership. At the end, a CEO needs to be able to be a leader not a boss, a team player not a one-man show.

Thanks to Joe Flanagan, VelvetJobs!

#12- Passion

Photo Credit: Annalyse Galán

You must have passion for your company and for the message you’re bringing to your customers. For example, Beauté Sauvage was created with a mission to produce sensual lingerie of unparalleled quality that celebrates the uniqueness of every woman. I believe that lingerie should give everyone a boost of confidence and accentuate their own natural beauty. That passion is what drives me to stand for my decisions and take risks when necessary.

Thanks to Annalyse Galán, Beauté!

#13- Three skills

Photo Credit: Daniel Adam

There are three essential CEO skills that have served me well. The first is resilience. Things can and will go wrong. Resilience allows you to pick yourself up, learn from what happened and keep going – even when you just want to crawl under the duvet and live there for a bit! The second is patience. It takes time to build a business, let alone a successful one. Being prepared to be in it for the long haul is realistic and patience allows you to tackle each day as it comes. The third is flexibility. Although it's great to have a solid vision, it's equally important to accept that things won't always go to plan and to be willing to change your ap

7 Self Care Tips From Incredibly Busy People- [Infographic]

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 09:16:23 -0400

It's easy to drop self-care at the end of the list when things are busy. It's easy to think it's not all that important and that there are other things we need to do first, but as we continue this kind of mindset, there is a tendency to burn out quickly.

As CEOs and business owners, if we don't have anything left to give, we can't give our all to our team, to our work or even to the task at hand.

Self-care does not imply selfishness or a disregard for the needs of others. In fact, it is essential for you to stay in the game and work at your most productive.

To help you stay on your A-Game, The Derm Review has created an excellent infographic that covers self-care tips from extremely busy people. It covers tips (and the science-backed reasons they are relevant to you and your team) from Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Michelle Obama.

They inspire us to work on what we love, to fill our own cups first, and to create a positive working environment so that we can be at our most productive, all the time. Follow these tips and implement them for your team and watch not only as your output skyrockets, but satisfaction and work-life balance increases as well!

IAM1132- Event Planner Makes Special Days a Success

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 17:12:07 -0400

Millen Haile is the founder of Millen’s Occasions, a seasoned event planning professional with 15 years of experience across the hospitality and professional event planning industry and now, a podcast!
Established in 2016, Millen’s Occasions specialize in all luxury weddings, multicultural weddings, as well as, social & corporate functions. Although, Millen’s Occasions is based in the Metro D.C. (DC/MD/VA) area & serving clients, they offer event planning & coordination services. They are willing to travel within the U.S. to ensure your special day is a success.

CEO Hack: Seminars, workshops and networking
CEO Nugget: Set a short-term goal and get a coach
CEO Defined:

Listen to the full podcast. This is Originally posted here.

The post IAM1132- Event Planner Makes Special Days a Success appeared first on Black Wall Street.

How To Improve Your Inventory Workspace

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 09:16:37 -0400

The efficiency and organization of an inventory space play a critical role in the success of a business. A well-organized and orderly warehouse makes it easier for staff members and business owners to navigate around their workspace and locate inventory quickly. Organized inventory space will ensure efficiency and minimize workflow delays.

Maintaining an organized inventory workspace brings about many benefits, including reliable inventory tracking and increased accuracy. Also, a well-defined and uncluttered workspace provides workers with a productive, safe, and clean working environment. Here are proven ways to maintain a well-organized and efficient warehouse.

Product Monitoring

Warehouse managers are tasked with identifying and monitoring their inventory products to increase the productivity and efficiency of warehouse workers. Products that move quickly should be placed near the order fulfilment areas for easier access. This trick will minimize the time taken to find a product and move it to the order fulfilment area.

Get Rid of Unused Inventory

Old and unused stock can clutter the working area. Therefore, inventory managers should assess their warehouses and get rid of products that are no longer useful. For example, supplies that staff members no longer need, such as printers and older computers, should be sold out or given to charity. Another way to declutter a warehouse is by disposing of items that have not been sold within six months. Disposing unused inventory creates more space for storing profitable items.

Utilize Warehouse Racking Systems

One proven way to maximize space in a warehouse is by utilizing heavy-duty bins and shelves. For example, a warehouse racking system can help ensure the safety of the stored items. Warehouse operators should arrange products based on brand, supplier, and type. Similar products should be stored in the same racking systems for easier tracking and retrieval.

Implement a Labeling System

Labelling storage units, pathways, work areas, and inventory products can add to the efficiency of a warehouse. Labelling makes it easier for warehouse workers to locate specific products. However, it is prudent to install safety signs indicating potential hazards and the capacity limit of cargo handling equipment. These signs will promote safety in the warehouse by making cargo handlers aware of areas to avoid and ways to handle supplies.

Ensure Regular Maintenance

Warehouse managers should perform regular checks to maintain a safe and productive workspace. For example, warehouse supervisors should regularly inspect the work area to see if inventory is in the right place, floors are swept, and safety measures are observed. Warehouse supervisors should convene an urgent meeting if workers fail to follow any of the organization's protocols.

Management should also keep reviewing their operations to enforce the implementation of the established procedures. For instance, warehouse managers can look into warehouse workers' performance to determine if any adjustments are needed to boost their performance.

Optimized Working Area

Warehouse workers should conduct regular quality control checks when receiving new inventory in order to assess the quality of the supplied products. Maintain a spacious work area to allow workers to sort through the incoming supplies. Cargo handlers should label any defective and damaged items and place them in a separate area to avoid mixing them with other items. Optimized receiving areas will guarantee proper handling of supplies and keep the warehouse organized.

Take Advantage of Warehouse Management Apps

Modern warehouse management technologies have made it easier for warehouse managers to track their inventory on laptops and mobile devices. Advanced warehouse management apps come fitted with voice search features and barcode scanning for quick and easy retrieval. These apps have made it easier for warehouse workers to navigate their facility and locate any needed item.

Create a Layout

Your warehouse layout should have flexible storage, enhanced product accessibility, and maximum storage space. Each warehouse is unique, so inventory managers should explore their facility to understand the nature of the working area. For example, inventory managers should examine packing, receiving, and production areas, and leave ample space between each area. This will ensure there is ample space for large machinery and forklifts to navigate throughout the warehouse.

It is wise to involve warehouse staff in developing a layout because their input will help improve workflow. Their opinion will provide insight into measures that can be taken to optimize the floor plan.

In conclusion, maintaining a well-organized and clean warehouse boosts operational efficiency. By implementing the above strategies, warehouses can enhance their productivity, safety and improve their customer service.

Author bio:

Taylor Haskings is a freelance writer born in Denver, Colorado. She graduated with a bachelor's in English from the University of Colorado, Denver. She enjoys hiking in the Colorado Rockies and loves the fine arts, such as playing the violin. Her true strengths include networking with others, and expressing herself through the written word.

22 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Tips In Being Disruptive

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 12:16:10 -0400

Building a customer base now goes beyond offering cheap substandard products. Improvement and ease of marketing have made this all possible thanks to the rise of social media platforms. On the other hand, this also creates an environment for a hyper-competitive market across various sectors even those that looked immune to technology such as Healthcare. How can one stand out?

Here’s what entrepreneurs and business owners had to say on their best tips on being disruptive.

#1- Be an efficiency absolutist

Photo Credit: Caroline Hoy

Disruption involves being able to spot opportunities for new and potentially revolutionary business models in an established niche or industry. While it does not necessarily mean you have to reinvent the wheel, even simple additions involving new automated processes or reconfigurations of existing supply chain paradigms can completely disrupt the status quo. The key is to be constantly on the lookout for ways to make things more efficient at the lowest possible cost.

Thanks to Caroline Hoy, Concord!

#2- Conduct seemingly random market experiments

Photo Credit: Jeroen van Gils

To be disruptive, you should conduct seemingly random market experiments. The traditional advantage of proprietary research and development is now a liability in a world of better and cheaper disruptors. While in-house testing provides you complete control over the design and ownership of new goods, it also comes with all of the costs involved and risks.

Thanks to Jeroen van Gils, EcomContent!

#3- Start with a controversial idea

Photo Credit: Stephen Roe

To be disruptive, you must start with a controversial idea. All great disruptions come from the idea that something in the current system is broken and that there's a better way. Your product, business model, and growth all depend on an idea that's not widely accepted. What ideas do you have that most people reject? That's how you'll become disruptive!

Thanks to Stephen Roe, Grow Atom!

#4- Think quickly and act slowly

Photo Credit: Bram Jansen

It's best to be prepared at all times. Don't wait until you're confronted with disruptive behavior to consider how you'll handle it. Instead, anticipate the circumstance and consider the many responses you may make. If your class is interrupted, you will be well prepared and able to quickly choose the best course of action. Always have a calm and measured demeanor. To maintain the respect of all your students, you must demonstrate that you are completely in charge of the situation.

Thanks to Bram Jansen, vpnAlert!

#5- Build up a feedback mechanism

Photo credit: Gerrid Smith

Disruptive entrepreneurs take client issues seriously, and they usually do so by keeping lines of contact open with them. Take the time to read any emails or social media messages you receive, and be open to product suggestions. Receiving feedback at each level of the scaling-up process can provide a wealth of information for improving and scaling your offering.

Thanks to Gerrid Smith, Joy Organics!

#6- Don't lose sight of what's truly important

Photo Credit: Eden Cheng

If there’s one thing you should always keep in mind it’s that disruption and transformation without an actual purpose is often of little to no value to consumers. Moreover, you don’t always have to be a true game-changer in your industry, because some truly disruptive inventions often require many different phases of evolution before they eventually reach their final, most effective form. So, while you may not find yourself coming up with the next Netflix or Zoom, you can still develop competitive solutions that will keep your business thriving in the future. In other words, don’t get caught up in the hype and lose sight of what is truly important, which is staying relevant to consumers and focusing on truly understanding them, their needs, and how they interact with your brand. This is what will inevitably present you with the information you need to come up with something that does well to truly ‘set the bar' higher for others within your industry.

Thanks to Eden Cheng, PeopleFinderFree!

#7- Be confident

Photo Credit: Daivat Dholakia

Being disruptive requires faith and stepping out of your comfort zone. It is easy to remain complacent, but growth and success won't occur if you stay that way. Before making a disruptive move, make sure that you are confident in your mission, values, and plan. Once you secure that confidence, faith in your actions should form. Take the step, and use your faith and confidence as a cornerstone to hold firm in your goals.

Thanks to Daivat Dholakia, Force by Mojio!

#8- Consider the business value your bringing

Photo Credit: Michael Hammelburger

Bring innovation to a market that demands a solution to their pressing problem. Always ask, what business value does it bring to the table? What can it contribute to disrupting the industry? What will make it a long-term, viable product or service that will help consumers solve their problems? When the answers are affirmative, then it's an indication that the business idea must be pursued.

Thanks to Michael Hammelburger, Sales Therapy!

#9- Understand what you're trying to disrupt

Photo Credit: Erin Zadoorian

Before trying on creating a new marketing strategy, equip yourself with facts and information. Consider your market's weakness or a group of potential clients whose demands aren't being met. Then, look for areas where your brand can fill a gap in the market and either create something better or make significant enhancements.

Thanks to Erin Zadoorian, Ministry of Hemp!

#10- Be like Apple and “think different”

Photo Credit: Paige Arnof-Fenn

To do that you have to talk with new people, ask more questions, shake up your routine by reading different blogs, visiting new websites, listening to alternative music genres, eating other ethnic foods, shopping in different neighborhoods, listening to new podcasts and taking new routes home from activities. Basically you have to open your mind and be exposed to a fresh perspective so you get the synapses firing and connect the dots in new and exciting ways. Disruption requires getting out of your comfort zone and considering new possibilities.

Thanks to Paige Arnof-Fenn, Mavens & Moguls!

#11- Focus on consumers and competitors

I have noticed that following disruptive competitors is not the way to go and can often lead to your businesses being insignificant and therefore, the antithesis of disruptive. Instead of chasing competitors that are disruptive, I try to adopt disruptive innovation early as this prevents my business from being outperformed by rivals. Consumers, on the other hand, usually don't have their concurrent needs met by disruptive innovation and are often not interested in it. This leads to many businesses focusing on the short-term needs of consumers which can drive them out of business in the long run. To avoid being outperformed by disruptive competitors, I personally focus on identifying and targeting new markets that value disruptive innovation.

Thanks to Jessica Lipton, Elevate Delta 8!

#12- Don’t succumb to trends

Photo Credit: Anton Giuroiu

In your quest for clients, it is sometimes tempting to go the easy route and follow the trends in your industry. My best advice is to stay true to where your passion lies and focus on what you’re good at. Who knows? What you’re doing now might disrupt the industry and become the next trend. You’ll never know if you just ride the bandwagon every time.

Thanks to Anton Giuroiu, Homesthetics.net!

#13- Use critical thinking

Photo Credit: Dr Lisa Lang

One way to do that is to uncover your assumptions. For many, realizing their assumptions can be a challenge. As Theory of Constraints manufacturing consultants, we use cause and effect logic, along with questions to uncover assumptions. For example, if you want to grow revenue by $1 million and to do that you're planning to hirer a manufacturing rep, we would probe: In order to increase sales by $1 million, you must hirer a manufacturing rep because…? Your responses are your assumptions. Ask the question over and over until you have at least ten assumptions. The more you check your assumptions and identify incorrect assumptions, the quicker you can pivot. A pivot is a change in direction based on what you've learned, based on learning which assumptions were correct and which ones were false. The trick is to reduce the time between pivots. The faster you pivot, the faster you can grow. This type of disruptive thinking can have a very position outcome!

Thanks to Dr Lisa Lang, Science of Business Inc.!

#14- Several tips

Photo Credit: Jaclyn Strauss

Be bold, be authentic but do not be a bull in a china shop. Stand true to your values and beliefs, and do not stop until you achieve what you set out to accomplish. When you hit a wall and initially feel like there is no way to break through the wall, push harder. Show up with passion and conviction but have enough emotional intelligence to read your audience. You never want to put yourself in a position where your most significant strength (passion) becomes a weakness. Being disruptive is a perfect mixture of these leadership characteristics and does take deliberate and mindful practice and commitment to move the mountains you desire.

Thanks to Jaclyn Strauss, CPA, My Macro Memoir!

#15- Prove you can change the game

IAM1131- Co-founder Offers Content Writing Services

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 06:16:47 -0400

Jack Pittas is the president & co-founder of PK Cyber Solutions Inc. He and his business partner initially founded the company to provide cybersecurity and other technology consulting services to small businesses. Later on, they began offering content writing services, specifically on more complex, technical topics, which is now their exclusive service offering. Prior to starting his business, Jack had worked as a commercial lines insurance producer at a locally owned insurance agency, where he developed many small business management skills that he utilizes today.

CEO Hack: My support network
CEO Nugget: (i) Have long-term revenue-generating contracts (ii) Work in commercial line insurance for exposure
CEO Defined: Leader of an initiative

Website: https://www.pkcybersolutions.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pk-cyber-solutions-inc/

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IAM1130- Public relations expert helps brands make a difference

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 16:47:03 -0400

Unapologetically pushing the Culture forward, Camille Davis pivoted to focus on Black-owned and Women-owned businesses in 2019. Focused on impactful brands, Davis is building her legacy by giving voice to those who contribute to the greater good and make their communities thrive. She's the host of Meet The Media, The WomenForTheCulture Podcast and a Media Guru. She's making space for and propelling Black Women and representation.

CEO Hack: My media list
CEO Nugget: (i) Learn and grow (ii) Don't go too far too care about the business more than your client does
CEO Defined: Ability to lead and listen

Website: http://montagepr.com/
Instagram: Instagram.com/montagepr

Check out one of our

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15 Pieces of Business Advice From Today’s Most Successful Female CEOs- [Infographic]

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:16:29 -0400

Running a successful business has always been hard work. But given recent events and the lingering uncertainties about the post-Covid economic recovery, it's fair to say that life has never been tougher for established and new business founders.

And so to give you a little boost just when you need it, OnDeck decided to create a helpful infographic outlining 15 pieces of advice from some of today's most successful female business leaders.

These winning tips and advice come from women founders and CEOs at the absolute top of their game, including General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Youtube boss Susan Wojcicki, and Pepsi's number one executive, Indra Nooyi.

And Whitney Wolfe Herd shares her number one piece of business advice, and it's well worth reading. The founder and CEO of dating app Bumble recently became the youngest ever self-made women billionaire. And she did it by sticking to a simple business plan that anybody can follow.

Find out the secret to Whitney's incredible success in the infographic below.

CEO Hack for Retailers – Alibaba.com

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 16:32:52 -0400

What are the CEO Hacks that make you more effective and efficient? Every day Gresh shares one with you on the I AM CEO podcast (@iamceo.co) and here's another great one you should know about. Alibaba.com ( @alibaba__com) supports merchants with experiences designed with them in mind. This includes saving time, 24|7 accessibility that puts the retailers …

5 Signs of Referral Program Success: What to Watch For

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 09:16:19 -0400

It’s not uncommon in referral marketing that companies push their referral programs so aggressively that it causes damage to the brand.

So how do you avoid this?

How do you build a successful referral program that creates an ongoing stream of leads or revenue for your startup without losing sight of what’s important – end user satisfaction? =

After running hundreds of referral programs at GrowSurf, we’ve identified 5 signs that all point towards a healthy, thriving referral program that brings in new leads and revenue:

1. You get referrals from people organically

Organic leads are some of the best you can get in business, showing that people who found your business are interested after doing initial research and contacting you on their own volition.

Friends and family often refer us to brands that they have tried. These are called organic referrals because word of mouth marketing is not actively planned by the brand.

If someone shares your business in a good way, it means that they had a good experience with you. They might tell their friends and family in person, they might write an online review or they might share something on social media that you made. Whatever the method, it creates opportunities for people to refer your business organically.

How to Identify Organic Referrals

There are three core sources where you might receive organic referrals: on your website, review services and word of mouth.

Organic Referrals from Your Site

Your own website and social media outlets are key in securing referrals from people finding you naturally on the internet or those who receive a recommendation. No online presence means no confirmation for referral sources.

Online Reviews

There are many different review sites available to you that include Capterra, Facebook, Trustpilot and more. Simply getting your business listed on these websites might start bringing in enough referrals as people consider what they want from the market.

Brands often worry about bad reviews on public sites. I know what many brands think when they read reviews from their customers. They often say to themselves, “Why are people saying such bad things about me? I've worked so hard on this product.” The thing that's most important about this is to realize the problems that they've shown concern with. That way, you can understand how to better deal with them as a business! If you're calm, it's possible to fix the situation. If you could make an impression on your customers that makes them happy, they're going to come back.

Reviews on products are helpful to both consumers and entrepreneurs. Reviews help customers make a decision, while also providing valuable feedback for the business owner. Reviews are an important part of the buying process. When people see how many positive reviews a product has, they'll want to get it too!

Personal Referrals

When someone organically refers you, it’s highly likely that they refer you again when there are referral rewards to be claimed.

2. You have good customer service

A business that takes care of its customers is a successful business.

Having world-class customer service is an absolute must if you want your business to succeed. When providing customer service, it’s important to not only commit to answer customer concerns, but additionally to communicate that you’re doing everything you can for them.

Consistency is important. If you deliver value to customers consistently, they'll tell their friends about your business and it will grow.

One of the easiest ways to provide a great customer experience is personalizing each interaction. It's not hard, but it can certainly make a difference in how loyal and happy your customers are. You can set up email automation to do most of the heavy lifting for you.

3. Your customers have been around for a long time

Retaining customers is extremely important. In fact, it's three times as expensive to attract new customers than it is to keep current ones happy. If you're in business, you might get caught up in trying to sell your products to new customers. This isn't a bad thing, but remember that it's also important to focus on retaining existing customers.

If you want your business to be sustainable, then you need repeat customers.

4. Your Net Promoter Score is excellent

The Net Promoter Score is an easy way to measure customer satisfaction. Customers will answer questions and then you can see if they recommend you. The score is usually calculated with the question, “How likely are you to refer us to your friends and family?” People answer this by using a scale of 1-10. The people who answered 1-6 get one point. Those who answered 7-8 gets two points and those who gave 9 or 10 get three points.

If the majority of people are scoring your business a 9-10, then you have one type of customer – Promoters. These types of customers should be good for referrals because they could tell their network about your company and potentially put in a good word.

5. You have organic word of mouth marketing

I recommend that you find a way to measure word of mouth marketing because it's hard to directly track. If you're getting a high volume of organic leads, that means your business is on the right track with word of mouth marketing.

Word of mouth is a very important method for getting organic traffic. My favorite way to develop word of mouth is through content creation.

Many see referral marketing as a more formal form of WOMM. If your customers are already talking about you and sending referrals, they would likely enjoy a formalized referral program that includes incentives.

Has your company considered launching a referral program?

A referral program is one of the most cost-effective ways to get more customers. When you have a referral program, it's like getting paid for your customers to tell their friends about your business.

Author bio

Chris Tweten is the CMO of GrowSurf, the referral software for B2B and B2C tech companies.

26 Entrepreneurs Reveal The Industries That Are Ripe For Disruption

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 06:16:24 -0400

Is your industry ready for a change? The decision on which industry one should venture in is often determined by factors such as advancement in technology and availability of capital. The prevailing trends may favor some industries while others prove to be more profitable over time.

We asked entrepreneurs and business owners about the industries that are ripe for disruption and here are the response;

#1- Cell phone carrier

Photo Credit: Rameez Usmani

I feel that the cell phone carrier industry is an example of an industry ripe for upheaval. Cell phone companies continue to entice users with low-priced, higher-quality plans, but these plans have a hidden cost. When you add up the costs of these bundles, you'll find that you're paying for services you'll never use. A cell phone company that offers low-cost services while giving more value can break this.

Thanks to Rameez Usmani, Code Signing Store!

#2- Automobile industry

Photo Credit: Erick Riddle

These days, the global automobile sector is undergoing massive change. The automobile industry's technologies have advanced at a breakneck pace. Global automakers and suppliers will adjust their business strategies, create new alliances, and invest in new technologies as a result.. Autonomous driving, electric vehicles, and connectivity will change our lives in profound ways, I believe.

Thanks to Erick Riddle, Driven Wheels!

#3- Restaurant

Photo Credit: Tyler Rice

The restaurant industry is ready for major disruption, especially following the pandemic. Restaurant owners and employees are being treated extremely poorly by many customers since service has changed with the lack of staffing. Unemployment benefits and the housing crisis in many towns have placed many challenges on the food and beverage industry and many restaurant owners are seeking new ways to evolve. While many owners are closing their doors half of the week or simply taking longer to deliver food, there are others who are changing the way orders are placed and how service is handled to make a better experience with less staff.

Thanks to Tyler Rice, Animas Marketing!

#4- Agriculture

Photo Credit: Herman Hibbert

Agriculture is now undergoing a tremendous transition, which is particularly appropriate for your use of the word ripe. There is no doubt that technology has had a significant influence. In my opinion, a new sector centered on carbon farming is just around the corner. I've volunteered and worked for non-profits in a variety of countries on projects ranging from an organic olive oil operation to a permaculture demonstration site to a forestry project in western Guatemala's mountains. During that period, it never occurred to me that business might assist mitigate the climate disaster produced by carbon and other greenhouse gases that we may be on the approach of experiencing. Agriculture, on the other hand, is already being transformed by technological innovation and is receiving considerable attention.

Thanks to Herman Hibbert, Leaf Gutter Guards!

#4- Media

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Shutty

That sounds far-fetched but the rise of independent journalists, alternative platforms and overall distrust in legacy media has millions of people looking for information they can trust. I host a weekly mastermind that is growing every month — we are all content producers in one form or another. Podcast producers, authors, YouTube stars (that have been kicked off YouTube and now thriving on Rofkin), and so much more. Big Tech and legacy media still has a stronghold over most people, but in due time, I see this changing dramatically. The content producers aren't paid for their work on these platforms. They are abused through senseless censorship and treated as useful idiots that the platform makes money from but never redistributes back to the artists or content providers themselves.

Thanks to Elizabeth Shutty, Deprogram!

#5- Fashion

Photo Credit: Harriet Chan

The fashion industry is always ripe for disruption since every consumer has their taste and style, and designers work round the clock to develop unique trends. Moreover, the fashion industry works hand-in-hand with online retail, an over-crowded space with everyone striving to outdo the other. It requires instant customer service through social media and chatbots. Different designers produce garments based on body shape, size, skin color, season, and many other factors. With this, a designer who can match people’s tastes and provide perfect sizes with perfect quality will dominate the industry.

Thanks to Harriet Chan, CocoFinder!

#6- Hemp

Photo Credit: Erin Zadoorian

I believe that the hemp industry is already ripe for disruption. The interest in the products is now being rediscovered and it is seeing a positive response. As people’s views and opinions about hemp and THC change, it is a very good opportunity for growth. A disruption during this time will transform and revolutionize the industry for sure. Also, a disruption in the cannabis industry would impact other industries as well as it is a disruption in itself. For example, it can cause further disruption in the medical field because it is increasingly being used to treat certain conditions. It is also a disruption to the recreational space, as it rises to the level of popularity that tobacco and alcohol have dominated for a very long time already. That being said, I believe it is safe to assume that there is no other industry as ready for disruption as the hemp industry.

Thanks to Erin Zadoorian, Ministry of Hemp!

#7- The service operations industry

Photo Credit: Michael Cupps

Things like Insurance Claims operations or Loan Operations that previously wanted a1000 people in a single service center in one or two shifts. This back-office work shouldn't require an agent in the office and most of it doesn't need to occur at a specific time of day. While much of the work does have a service level agreement (resolved in 2 days as an example) it doesn't require someone to be sitting at a desk until 10:30 am. These operations learned during the last 18 months they could operate in a remote or distributed environment. They need to quickly equip their managers to understand and automate the way work is handled and resources allocated. Additionally, they better have a good handle on the well-being of the employees. Without these key metrics, employees will be free agents and looking for better work culture. In these back-office labor-intensive environments, disruptions is going to be significant and in favor of the employee.

Thanks to Michael Cupps, ActiveOps!

#8- The energy industry

Photo Credit: Cliff Auerswald

Even though there have been staggering advances in energy (i.e. electric cars, solar power) in the last decade, we're still a long way to go from ruly sustainable and clean energy. There's quite a bit of room for a disruptor to enter the energy field in the next couple of years and really shake things up and shape the future. So, if you were thinking of not pursuing a new idea in the energy space because electric cars and solar
power already exists, think again!

Thanks to Cliff Auerswald, All Reverse Mortgage, Inc.!

#9- Information

Photo Credit: Ryan Rottman

Any niche that offers information to their users is currently ripe for disruption. Being innovative and coming up with new ideas that haven't been used over and over again are what will retain a visitor's attention, though. Presenting information in the same format may just force visitors to go elsewhere to look for unique material that offers something that hasn't been done before, or that hasn't been presented in that particular way. Whether you're offering daily news or stats on sports players, it's all really the same. Design a platform that is inspiring and begs for interaction and participation. That will definitely earn you a coveted space on a bookmark toolbar!

Thanks to Ryan Rottman, OSDB Sports!

#10- The real estate

Photo Credit: Edward Shaw

The real estate industry is bound for disruption- its model has been untouched and remains the same for years. The commission on selling houses still amounts to at least 6-7%, and so many agents and brokers are adding to the competition pool while decreasing the rate of productivity and sales. The real estate market that we are used to is missing out on a lot– the evolving consumer market, meeting the changing demands of buyers and real estate owners. The real estate market also loses its ability to provide efficient results such as high sales turnout and more satisfied clients and customers.

Thanks to Edward Shaw, Leeline Sourcing!

#11- Cyber security

Photo Credit: Tim O'Brien

One of the top disruptive industries to watch out for is cyber security. Especially more so in recent times, criminals have been practicing their illegal activities online. Cybercriminals have been able to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to their hearts' content. Fortunately, there are also counter advances in cyber security to fight the threats we face. Thanks to these advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, cyber security experts have succeeded to design better firewalls and interference detection tools to protect us from these perils.

Thanks to Tim O'Brien, The Healthy Place!

#12- Manufacturing

Photo Credit: Katherine Brown

Though disruption has been ongoing, advancements in AI will cause further changes. Some tasks previously performed by human labor or by hand-controlled machines have been automated through AI-powered robots. The customer service industry is also bound to experience abrupt change. The existence of virtual assistants, chatbots, and other technologies will replace traditional customer care methods. Telemedicine will disrupt the healthcare industry. Long gone are the days when visits to the doctor had to be in person, even for the slightest things like sore throats and stomach upsets. These days, medical practitioners can meet through video communication on software built for this specific purpose.

Thanks to Katherine Brown, Spyic!

IAM1129- Creator Solves Problems Surrounding How People Interact

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 06:16:09 -0400

James Jensen is an entrepreneur committed to working with leading-edge technology and eager to solve problems surrounding how we interact and engage with each other in physical and virtual worlds. He is the previous creator and co-founder of the world-renowned virtual reality company The VOID. Within the last 25 years, James founded and managed several technology companies in video streaming, social networks, mobile games, and creative services. He has partnered with Disney, Sony Entertainment, FOX, MGM, Intel, Microsoft, SyFy, Dreamworks, and MTV through those ventures. He is now launching a new form of virtual reality, called hyper-reality, in the form of the multi-sensory entertainment company JUMP. JUMP will allow people to come as close to jumping and flying as the real thing, but without all of the risk.

CEO Hack:
CEO Nugget:
CEO Defined:

Website: http://limitlessflight.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@limitlessflight?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limitlessflight/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_lrbIHXqNB4wJKBGJ5GuPwFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jumplimitlessflight

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IAM1128- Cake Artist Runs a Home Bakery

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:13:37 -0400

Elevation Cakes & Sweets is a woman-owned home bakery that specializes in buttercream cakes and sweet treats. Alicia's journey started from learning basic cooking skills from her paternal grandmother, who would bake family favorites every week just to put a smile on their faces. Her grandmother was the first one to nurture her love for baking by sending her cookbooks to help her develop baking skills. This lead to Alicia embarking in a career in the foodservice industry working for a premier baking company in their logistics area, then moving on to Marketing, and lastly branching out on her own.

CEO

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How To Create A Long Term Strategy For Your Small Business

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 09:16:03 -0400

There are countless businesses everywhere around the world. These businesses, whether small, medium, or large, offer different services or products to their customers. However, the one thing that is common to all of these businesses – the desire to grow. Irrespective of the size of a business, business owners are always looking for ways to expand their business and make more money.

One way to ensure the expansion of your business is by proper planning. This is not just about planning for the next 6 months or 1 year, short-term plans are important. However, every business ought to have a long-term strategy, especially small businesses. As an entrepreneur, where do you see your business in five years? Do you have a feasible plan on how to achieve this five-year plan? This article explains five ways that you can create a long-term strategy for your small business.

1. Have a Mission:

This is the very first step that you have to take in creating a long-term strategy for your small business. You need to know what you want. The strategy you are about to create, what is going to be the result of following that strategy? As it was mentioned earlier, every business owner desires to see their business grow, however, the definition of growth will depend on what business owners want for their businesses.

So, you need to define your mission. Where do you see your small business in five, ten, or twenty years? When people talk about the service or products that you provide, do you want to be a household name in your state, or your country, or your continent, or in the whole of the world? After deciding your businesss’ mission, it is important to write this mission down. It gives you a target that you can begin to work towards.

2. Set Goals:

The mission that you have set for your business will not actualize unless you hit certain milestones. There are some things that you have to achieve before you can say that you have completed your mission. These milestones, these benchmarks, are called goals. If your mission is to be the best food blogger in the whole of America, some goals that you have to achieve to complete this mission are;

Having hundreds of thousands of subscribers that get notifications for your latest posts or newsletters.
Being an affiliate marketer for top brands in the food industry.
Making six or seven-figure income monthly.
Getting links on authoritative sites and so on.
Have more than a million followers on your social media platforms.

One of the best ways to set goals is by using the SMART method. This means that you should set goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Doing this will make it easier for you to achieve your goals.

3. Lay Out Your Strategies:

At this point, you have a mission and the goals you have to achieve to make the mission a success. Now you need to plan the strategies that you will employ to meet your goals and achieve your mission. Having an online presence is very important for any business in this dispensation so you need to have a strategy to grow your business’s online presence.

You can create a team to help you grow your online presence or you can partner with a digital marketing agency like Tactica to create effective strategies to grow your business online presence. A digital marketing or search engine optimization agency will help you to make sure that your business appears at the top of a search page whenever anyone searches for the product and/or services that you offer.

4. Measure Results:

So you have goals and you have strategies that you will use to achieve these goals. The next thing to do is to implement these strategies and measure your results. Remember that your goals have to be measurable and time-bound. This means that from time to time, you need to make sure that you are meeting these goals. If you are not, then you need to revisit your strategy.

5. Be Positive:

Your state of mind can affect your business in no little way. While you put in your hard work and time, you need to believe that your effort will bring yield.

These five steps are all you need to guarantee long-term success for your business. Life and everything about it is dynamic hence, endeavor to review your strategies from time to time to fit current trends. However, regardless of the change you make to your strategies, always make sure that they are always in line with your mission. Also, if you need help, don't hesitate to ask for clarification from industry professionals.

Guest post courtesy of Lena Linetti

IAM1127- Founder Provides Digital Momentum to Small Local Businesses

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 23:46:24 -0400

Momentum Founder, Mac Frederick, is a college-athlete turned entrepreneur. He's currently serving as Founder & CEO of Momentum Digital, which he started with his co-founder in August of 2015 after leaving Google. Over the last 5 years, Mac was able to scale the agency to over 20 people and has worked with hundreds of small businesses. His entire mission is to provide digital momentum to small local businesses that need it the most.
Mac also owns Phone Repair Philly, now the #1 Electronics Repair company in Philadelphia. He uses that business to showcase his digital skills around SEO, Local SEO, and

Listen to the full podcast. This is Originally posted here.

The post IAM1127- Founder Provides Digital Momentum to Small Local Businesses appeared first on Healthy CEO.

Monday Motivation: GIVE IT YOUR ALL

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 09:16:42 -0400

This motivational video is to help CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners start the week off inspired to become great.

Here are some takeaways from the video:

Give it everything you got
Stop being afraid to take a step
Spend time doing things you like
Rise up and push yourself

The post Monday Motivation: GIVE IT YOUR ALL appeared first on Hearpreneur.

28 Entrepreneurs Explain Why They Started Their Business

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 12:16:48 -0400

Each business has a story. No matter if the business is a Goliath like Wal-Mart, or a local business owned by a couple or family, the business has roots in an idea. For each business owner, the story of their journey can range from monetary needs or the passion for a unique project. Each story is different though the reasons may be the same. No matter the tale, the background behind each and every business is what fuels each and brand.

We asked some entrepreneurs and business owners, why they started their businesses:

#1- Almost by accident

Photo Credit: Robert Harbauer

Dr. Tom Offermann, my business partner and a dentist, was using a substance in his work for dental fillings, just like dentists do every day. A patient asked to have some to try, and came back the following week asking for a huge amount–more than a few year's worth, literally! When asked why, the patient said he was using it in microelectronics work to attach tiny wires. Dr. Tom was blown away and thought, if this guy can use it by the drop for electronics, imagine how millions of others could use it every day in their lives for thousands of other projects. He worked tirelessly on coming up with a version that was more versatile and useful on everything but teeth, and of course, would be much less expensive. So Bondic was born! Who knew there would ever be something better than glue?

Thanks to Robert Harbauer, Laser Bonding Tech, Inc.!

#2- Honor a special bond

Photo Credit: Adam Greene

My co-founder and I came up with the idea for Cuddle Clones in an entrepreneurial-focused MBA program. We wanted to honor the special bond people have with their pets by creating handmade, custom plush replicas. Many people might think our clones are only memorials but 70 percent of our requests come from students going away to college, military personnel on deployment who have to leave the family pet behind, or from people who simply just love the idea of having a cute plush version of their pet.

Thanks to Adam Greene, Cuddle Clones!

#3- The idea started with Duane Cheers

Photo Credit: Vivian Wolf

The idea behind Everything Legendary, a black-owned plant-based food company, started with Duane Cheers. He was inspired to create a healthy food line after he went grocery shopping with his mother who had been dealing with Lupus for more than 30 years. She ate a plant-based diet and was always on the hunt for vegan products to help maintain her health, but what she really wanted again was a burger that was vegan and had flavor. Duane enlisted the help of a seasoned chef, not a lab technician, to create a flavorful burger like no other and make a meal worthy of Mom. Everything Legendary features vegan patties and ground, vegan cheese-infused patties, and more healthy food options full of flavor to come!

Thanks to Vivian Wolf, Orca Communications!

#4- Because coaching changed my life

Photo Credit: Sigrid Tasies

It supported me to realize that I did not have to stay in a corporate job I didn't like, living a life I didn't enjoy… But rather I had choices. Thanks to working with a Coach I was able to turn my life around and went from living a life by default, to living one by design. The gratitude I felt for this opportunity was what fuelled my passion to become an entrepreneur and start a business supporting people to transform their lives as well.

Thanks to Sigrid Tasies

#5- To make a big difference

Photo Credit: Noah James

I started my business because I wanted to feel like I'm making a big difference in the world. I wanted to be able to set my own hours and control my relative level of stress all while potentially earning a lot more money. I wanted to create something that pays off on a personal level because it's easier than directly plugging into the rat race of being an employee. Having ownership, as well as pride in what I do, is important as I push myself forward every day providing for my family and their future.

Thanks to Noah James, Liberty Lawn Maintenance!

#6- Combine two interests

Photo Credit: Alexandra Chu

People have always told me that I need to choose between science and the humanities, but I have an equal love for both of them. I’ve always wanted to pursue medicine as a career, but creative writing and art are extremely prominent things in my life. Not wanting to choose one over the other, I tried to find a way to combine my interests. After some research, I decided to start my organization to show the world how it's possible to merge the two worlds and to find other students who share similar interests.

Thanks to Alexandra Chu, MedCreate!

#7- To provide a more empirical and evidence-based approach

Photo Credit: Sarabeth Perry

I started Bace Health because I wanted to provide a more empirical and evidence-based approach to CBD and cannabinoids. I used to work in clinical research at Mount Sinai hospital, and as I was working with patients I realized that there weren't any solutions for individuals approaching CBD for health. What do at Bace, from how we select the farmers we work with, to the extraction method we use, to how we communicate, is with the goal of giving people greater agency over their health.

Thanks to Sarabeth Perry, Bace Health!

#8- To create a complete one-stop shop

Photo Credit: Michael Wood

We started Ottawa Special Events back in 2010 as a complete one-stop shop for all event rentals. Historically, if you were hosting a large event in our city, you had to call a tent company, a party rental company, a sound and lighting company and a stage rental company. If your project was even more substantial, perhaps an audiovisual company as well. We created a business that you can order absolutely everything you needed with one phone. Granted, we cross rented everything and did the leg work on behalf of the client, eleven and a half years later we have over a million dollars in our inventory, a large warehouse filled to the rafters and very happy clients as we saved them both a lot of time and money.

Thanks to Michael Wood, Ottawa Special Events!

#9- Create quality skincare products for men

Photo Credit: Jared Pobre

When my wife Stacy and I were pregnant with our first child in 2014, we transformed our lives, ensuring everything we use in and on our bodies was as organic, non-toxic, and sustainable as possible. When we moved to the Wyoming mountains, my face would get badly chaffed from the blustering winds of winter and the hot, dry weather in summer. The only relief I got was from the women's skincare products my wife uses. That's when we asked ourselves why there aren't quality products to nourish and protect the thicker, more sensitive skin men have. This time coincided with the reemergence of the wellness lifestyle trend. However, we saw that the focus of most organic skincare brands was on women. And Stacy and I know that natural, quality skincare is essential for men, too, especially in harsh, chaffing climates like Wyoming. So we began developing a serum using wild-harvested botanicals from right here in Wyoming's Teton Mountains. The result is Caldera + Lab, our performance luxury skincare brand for men that harnesses pharmaceutical-grade science and nature's purest, most potent ingredients.

Thanks to Jared Pobre, Caldera + Lab!

#10- Create connections to young women

Photo Credit: Jasmine Charbonier

I've always felt connected to young women of color and wanted to build a community of women supporting each other. During the pandemic, I realized that I could do that through fashion and style. The term Love Rush is defined as ‘to have a great attachment to and affection for'. It is generally meant to describe a feeling you have for a partner but I believe this is the affection we should have for ourselves. Women love to feel and look good and that's what Love Rush Essentials is all about.

Thanks to Jasmine Charbonier, Love Rush Essentials!

#11- Two reasons

Photo Credit: Phil Bryson

First, to become financially independent. During the earlier stages of the pandemic, I saw a lot of people I cared about getting laid off from their jobs. While I was fortunate to have kept mine, it opened my eyes and I realized having a single source of income was incredibly risky. Secondly, I have a passion for helping people and I discovered a way to do that through real estate. Unfortunately, investors tend to have a bad reputation, but for the homeowners who actually need someone like that to buy their house, I take great pride in the way we go about it.

Thanks to Phil Bryson, Easy AZ Home Buyer!

#12- Connect young adults to economic mobility

Photo Credit: Regeanie Corona

When I decided to leave the tech field to pursue full-time entrepreneurship, I decided that I wanted to be a social entrepreneur, using business to innovatively solve social challenges in the world. I started Advancing The Seed, Inc. as a way to help unemployed and underemployed young adults connect to economic mobility by providing training and development resources that could teach them the skills to be strong leaders, improve their soft skills, and increase their financial literacy. We have served over 4,100 youth and young adults through our program to date. At the beginning of 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic impact, we launched a learning management system (LMS) to allow us to expand our training program through a virtual platform. This allowed me to once again leverage my technical skills to deliver innovative solutions to serve our community. Our new business model allows us to partner with other nonprofits and reaches more individuals in need of career development and soft skills training.

Thanks to Regeanie Corona, Advancing The Seed, Inc.!

#13- Offer cabinet designs that beautify home

Photo Credit: Stephen Light

My family loves to hang out in the kitchen since we are Greeks, so my brother, Alex, and I started Cabinet Select. We wanted to help homeowners by offering cabinet designs that beautify homes and make kitchen storage much more efficient. Our ultimate goal is to share with the rest of the world how an exquisitely constructed kitchen can do wonders in making cooking more efficient.

Thanks to Stephen Light, Cabinet Select!

#14- Create lifestyle stock imagery

Productive.io.

It is a must-have tool that provides centralized project communication between all team members. Regardless of what project template a project manager has to deal with, this tool teaches visualizing progress and deliver Agile projects differently. It also has a great set of tools to collect feedback from the clients.

JIRA.

If a project manager wants to learn about the bug and issue tracking tools, it is one of the safest choices even for beginners. It is a unique workflow environment because you can take various approaches to problem-solving. For example, workflows, fields, issues, or log handling of similar issues.

Pivotal Tracker.

It is a vital teaching tool for project managers in an Agile environment that is mostly used for software development tasks or data science projects. In simple terms, it helps to visualize projects by breaking down complex aspects into simpler chunks that can be managed. It also teaches evaluating possible outcomes and estimate approximate project completion. A great tool that highlights a practical side of Agile work.

Asana.

One of the best task management tools for Agile organizations that project managers should check for teaching purposes. It has a creative workspace that can help improve one’s social skills. It has a friendly notes and comments system that is great for small projects and midsize organizations.

Binfire.

This online management system supports Agile management environments and has lots of essential functions already included. It has a message board, interactive whiteboard, project folders, notes, burndown charts, document editing, and more. Most importantly, it provides real-time alerts, which project managers must consider.

nTask.

It is an amazing tool if you are used to working with the task boards as you collaborate. It is actually an essential tool for project managers because it helps to schedule meetings, share information in public or privately, and save precious time when managing urgent tasks. It is quite simple and stands out from the rest by being accessible. Learn to keep every bit of text accurate and ensure that there are no mistakes or repetitions. You can approach writing experts by typing proofread my essay and get all of these grammar and style matters handled right. It will also show you as an accurate, responsible project manager!

VivifyScrum.

The best Agile management teaching tool for project managers belonging to smaller companies. If you want to teach Kanban board methodology or approach Product Backlog features, it lets you manage multiple projects at once. An addition of a time tracker will help every project manager stay relevant by focusing on the functionality of certain implemented ideas.

StoriesOnBoard.

It’s a visual planning tool that project managers must consider for teaching purposes. It has a “user story” approach that uses mapping. The world's top companies use it to visualize and explain project objectives. It integrates with the most popular Agile tools like Trello, DevOps, or JIRA.

The Collaboration Matters

The role of project managers or Agile leaders cannot be underestimated, even though Agile projects must take a collaborative approach to function right. One may add a plethora of digital or teaching tools to complete some task, yet it is always the work of the project manager that helps connect the dots and makes discussion of every pressing issue a breeze. The project managers help to establish a healthy environment in multicultural teams, shape the workflow, coach people and adjust things according to occurring challenges without making some people feel more or less important.

Author bio

As a project manager and educator, Charlotte likes to share her knowledge and innovative ideas. Her posts explore useful management tools, her experience with LetsGradeIt, and more. Follow Charlotte to learn something new and get inspired.

The Legal Aspects of Running an Online Business in 2021

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 09:16:38 -0400

In 2021, with the development and growth of social media and increasing smartphone usage, online business is booming. Online business growth has overwhelmingly increased in the pandemic since many consumers are at home glued to their screens. The increasing reach of the internet has made it easy to start an online business by providing numerous opportunities and a wider market reach.

The internet has made the world your market by providing access to buyers from all over the globe. It is relatively easy to finance an online business since its start-up cost is significantly lower than a traditional offline business. It is crucial to be aware of legal requirements and maintain legal boundaries to start an online business.

Your business should be compliant with the laws and regulations in your location. If you plan on starting up an online business in 2021, and the legalities are holding you back, we've got you covered. To stay within your budget, you can avail of the best LLC services available online without having to look for an attorney.

Here are a few tips to avoid legal troubles down the road.

Business Entity

While choosing the ideal legal structure for your online business, it is crucial to consider your business objectives, the regional, state, federal law, and income tax regulations. When undertaking an online business venture, you need to register either as a company or an LLC(Limited Liability Company). The structure you select will have a significant impact on the businesses' day-to-day operations and other essential aspects like the tax obligations, liabilities, and legal risks your company faces.

Each business structure has its pros and cons. Your safest bet is to consult a legal attorney for advice to determine which business structure is best suited for your company.

Taxes

The tax rules and regulations differ for every state and country. It is crucial to be aware of all tax laws and obligations while conducting an online business. Compliance with tax laws and regulations is vital in running a successful online business.

It is a good idea to consult a legal advisor, seek advice from a tax professional or local tax authorities to guide you through all taxation-related formalities. The taxation policies are updated frequently. It is essential to stay informed at all times to avoid legal complications.

Licenses and Permits

Licenses and permits are essential for an online business to operate legally. The type of business permits and licenses required depends upon the state and local laws and regulations. The kind of license you need depends upon the nature of your business. Your company could be penalized and heavily fined if it is operating without adequate licenses and permits.

Copyrights, Patents, and Trademarks

Copyright: Basically, copyright is the exclusive right to copy. The copyright law offers legal protection to the owner from duplication and unauthorized use. The copyright law varies in each country.
Trademarks: A trademark is an exclusive identification assigned by a company to a product that legally differentiates it from other products. It may be a symbol, phrase, logo.
Patents: Patent is a legal right granted to the owner of an invention for a limited time for exclusively marketing it.

It is essential to register your business name and domain name. Trademarks are crucial in protecting your business from unauthorized use and duplication of your brand name. Infringing on the trademarks and patents of another business can land your company in legal trouble.

The laws and guidelines associated with trademarks and copyrights differ in each country. An attorney who has expertise in this field can provide you professional advice and valuable insights.

Shipping Restrictions

It is essential to stay up-to-date and informed about international shipping regulations to avoid getting into legal complications. Special shipping considerations are required for some items. Several shipping companies restrict certain products due to safety reasons. Below is a list of some common internationally restricted items:

Aerosols
Airbags
Ammunition
Cigarettes
Alcohol
Explosives
Perishables
Poison

Through proper legal paperwork and with additional costs, some shipping companies may allow you to ship restricted items too. It should be taken into consideration while deciding upon a shipping provider for your business.

Business Insurance

Running an online business can make your company vulnerable to many potential risks. Cyber-attack and data breaches are significant risks to an online business. A cyber liability insurance policy safeguards your business against online threats and data breaches.

Commercial general liability insurance protects against property damage claims, advertising, and bodily injuries. Product liability insurance offers coverage against a claim related to a faulty product that caused someone an injury or property damage. By adequately insuring your business, you can save your company from lawsuits and financial losses.

Payment Gateway

A payment gateway provider is vital on any online business website. Payment Gateway provides a secure interface between an online business website and a customer's preferred mode of electronic payment. It allows the business website to process and accept customer payments.

The payment gateway enables the website to accept payment through credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts, and mobile wallets. The primary motive behind a payment gateway is to ensure a seamless, convenient, swift, and hassle-free transaction process. It should guarantee the security of a customer's personal and financial information. Online payment regulations are crucial in securing the legal interests of both the merchant and customers.

Data Protection

An online business requires you to accept and retain personal information from customers. Customer data should be collected and stored with utmost security. It is essential to have a Privacy policy on your business website to fulfill your data protection requirements. Data protection and privacy laws are crucial in an online business platform.

It is vital to ensure that all personal data is used securely, transparently, lawfully, and for legitimate purposes. It is essential to have a list of terms and conditions defining the rights and obligations of the customers and your business on your website.

Conclusion

These are some legal considerations that must be addressed to operate an online business successfully. By fulfilling these legal requirements, you can establish a firm foothold for your online business. Also, by investing in an LLC service that best suits your need, you can get your online business registered at a relatively low cost.

Guest post courtesy of Judy Fitzgerald

16 Entrepreneurs Define The Term Disruption

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 12:16:23 -0400

What comes to your mind when you think of disruption or being a disruptor?

Some define it as coming up with a new product or different way of doing things.

Here’s how entrepreneurs and business owners define innovation and disruption;

#1- Alter and transform innate processes

Photo Credit: Darshan Somashekar

When I talk about disruptive businesses, I'm referring to businesses that alter and transform innate processes and systems. Businesses that employ tech layers to build solutions that better solve individual and collective concerns. The goal of disruption is to improve the user experience. In every situation, this is the case.

Thanks to Darshan Somashekar, Freecell-Challenge!

#2- Taking risks

Photo Credit: Mike Dragan

Although the terms ‘innovation' and ‘disruption' are frequently used, few entrepreneurs, in my opinion, have the courage to put them into practice in a significant way. Taking risks that others in your sector aren't willing to take leads to disruption. Now, taking a chance does not imply abandoning caution. When we try something new, we plan beforehand. We established objectives, boundaries, and timeframes for evaluating the outcomes of our new projects. Many of them are hopeless. However, the successful ideas have aided us in making significant progress as a corporation. Overall, disruption is a strategy that must be implemented consistently over time in order for a company to be successful. To be managed, that practice must be measured. It's not innovation if it doesn't keep you up all night.

Thanks to Mike Dragan, Oveit!

#3- Getting out of your comfort zone

Photo Credit: Amit Raj

It's all about being comfortable with being uncomfortable, getting thrilled about the disorder, and embracing conflict when it comes to disruption and innovation. Without much knowledge or advice, you must push yourself outside of your comfort zone. In many cases, there is no well-developed or well-designed blueprint for developing a concept, idea, or business. Because of the unknown, plans are extremely essential, but the ability to learn, adapt, and pivot in real-time is much more valuable. This is how we come up with new ideas and opportunities. Being the first to attempt something is exhilarating, but it's also uncomfortable, and that's where you can shine. Learning from failures is an important part of innovation. Our team is encouraged to experiment with fresh concepts and ideas in order to come up with novel solutions. Our people are our most precious asset. Problem solvers are the type of individuals we want.

Thanks to Amit Raj, The Links Guy!

#4- Several definitions

Photo Credit: Charlotte Shaff

I recognize disruption as a refreshingly new opportunity to create a better future for more than one side of the story. To me, disruption is breaking the box, exiting the room the box was in and walking outside to a limitless environment when addressing how a problem needs to be resolved. Disruption, especially a positive disruption, creates energy, opportunity, hope, philanthropy, solutions and actionable kindness. Disruption allows for a new diverse set of speakers to enter the room when it comes to problem-solving. Disruption breaks the expectation, acknowledges a reality, rearranges the qualifiable items, reassesses the priorities and reinvents a way to achieve the greater goal.

Thanks to Charlotte Shaff, The Media Push!

#5- Market entrants with non-traditional business models

Photo Credit: Kristin Stump

When it comes to business strategy, disruption refers to a process in which market entrants arrive with non-traditional business models, and what appear to be poor-performing products at first, eventually challenge and replace industry leaders. As a marketing manager, I described disruption as the process through which an underappreciated or unanticipated product or service gains enough traction to replace or displace a more established product or service on the market. If you've ever read an article or thought about a piece of popular new software, app, or tech-based product that has lately exploded in popularity, you've probably heard it described as disruptive.

Thanks to Kristin Stump, My Enamel Pins!

#6- Shifting consumer behavior

Photo Credit: Alex Moss

In business, disruption is the process of shifting consumer behavior away from existing products or services to new solutions. This shift is typically led by an innovation that stirs an entire industry into new modes of consumer behavior. For true disruption to occur, the product or service in question must be significantly better in terms of functionality, price, distribution, or experience.

Thanks to Alex Moss, Tactical Arbitrage!

#7- Growth for an opportunity

Photo Credit: Ed Leake

When you're on the search for disruption, you will undoubtedly come across prospects for growth. These new sales products, markets, and channels can help you optimize your business and generate more money, even if they don't qualify as truly disruptive innovation. It will also improve my client satisfaction. Any company's goal should be to turn its clients into enthusiastic fans. Attending to your customer's needs has two advantages: you'll find possibilities for disruption, and your customers will be happier.

Thanks to Ed Leake, Adevolver!

#8- Developing solutions

Photo Credit: Michael Hennessy

Disruption occurs when innovation that is seemingly insignificant at first overtakes conventional products or services. No one expects these disruptions because the innovations typically start with lower gross margins and a smaller target. They slowly rise to popularity before they end up opening a new market. To protect your business against disruptors, you must develop solutions that challenge these new innovations. As long as you keep up with the changing market, your business will continue to prosper.

Thanks to Michael Hennessy, Diathrive!

#9- Reset of the status quo

Photo Credit: Craig Hughes

Disruption is a reset of the status quo due to innovative technologies. These are radical changes on how business is made. Before, all transactions were done through cash and cheques but due to the disruption brought about by digitalization, we now have cashless transactions which has become the new status quo. This is going to continue so long as there is innovation and new technologies are introduced.

Thanks to Craig Hughes, FindBettingSites!

#10- Creative destruction

Photo Credit: Aidan McCarty

It’s the process of tearing down and rebuilding an industry by identifying and meeting unmet needs. To me, disruption is an overused word for a profound idea in business and in life. It’s an inevitability. Poor designs and inefficiencies are cut out over time in a Darwinian process of selection. It’s not a linear process, and at times it looks chaotic if you zoom in too closely. But in the limit solutions that maximize efficiency prevail. To me, disruption is the natural process of new innovation undermining legacy solutions — twisting or even inverting ideas of how business is done and life is lived to make it more efficient and more effective.

Thanks to Aidan McCarty, Unum ID!

#11- Replacement of a leading firm

Photo Credit: Issac Roberston

Disruption has various meanings, considering the context and its usage. In most cases, disruption means the replacement of a leading firm in the market by another firm. The disruption is attributed more to the creative aspects of the market. This phenomenon cannot be foreseen as the competitiveness in the market is intense, and there is always scope for unpredictable disruptions.

Thanks to Issac Roberston, TotalShape!

#12- Runner-ups' business models

Photo Credit: Brandyn Schwalm

Business disruption is heavily linked to the concept of disruptive innovation because disruptive products and services appear when companies use an unconventional approach to business and market innovation. Established companies strive to improve their products and services for their existing profitable customers, using a traditional method referred to as sustaining innovation. And disruptive companies use innovative business models to make expensive or sophisticated products and services accessible and more affordable to new or bottom-tier customers. As a result, disruptive companies have the potential to change or entirely displace existing companies and industries.. But business disruptions don’t happen overnight. For example, it took Wikipedia 11 years until they overthrew Encyclopedia Britannica.

Thanks to Brandyn Schwalm, The Local House Buyers!

#13- The ability to analyze and take strategic risks

Photo Credit: Zarina Bahadur

In my experience, few executives are willing to tackle innovation and disruption in an actual, meaningful way. When an industry or market is disrupted, it is completely reshaped or changed. Over time, industries become obsolete, which is one of the biggest problems. However, the power and influence of disruption keep them alive long after their viability has passed. Disrupters fill a much-needed void in the market by providing solutions that were previously unavailable. It is all about embracing conflict, being comfortable with discomfort, and becoming comfortable with chaos in order to disrupt and innovate.

Thanks to Zarina Bahadur, 123 Baby Box!

#14- Change of reality

The prospects of retail lay in customer experience. Forming a bond with your existing customer base through personalization strategies and good service to promote loyalty and recommendations should be your focus going forward.

Crucial to this end is listening to customers and taking on board feedback, positive and negative. Consumers generally post reviews on platforms such as Reddit, Quora, and Facebook, and consumer review websites like PissedConsumer.com, because they want their voice to be heard.

This could be for altruistic reasons. They may have had a good experience with a company or product and want to spread the word so others can benefit, although, satisfied customers rarely take to voicing their opinion. Or, it could be because they are unhappy with the service provided by a company and felt that the situation was not satisfactorily resolved.

It’s vital that a company occupies the space between an unhappy consumer and a negative online review and provides an outlet for this dissatisfaction that is not only accessible and responsive but an understanding of what motivates consumers too.

In general, consumer reviews give feedback on one or more aspects:

value for money;
personal experience with a company’s service or product;
quality of a company’s service or product;
shipping and delivery times;
customer service and aftercare.

The psychology of complaints: the thought process of the disgruntled consumer

First of all, if anything at all goes wrong, who is the customer likely to hold responsible?

You.

Attribution theory posits that when circumstances are favorable, an individual tends to firstly link this to personal successes or abilities, such as hard work, perceptiveness, or skill. Conversely, when things aren’t looking so good, people are more likely to point the finger elsewhere before considering that the situation may be due to any personal failings.

What’s more, consumers are likely to take a harder line against transactions conducted through technology than those made in person. So, when an interaction takes place online, with no direct human involvement, a consumer is quicker to hold the company at the other end to account.

Why is the consumer not hearing everything you’re saying?

People are quicker to jump to conclusions that support their already existing views, rather than those that question them. In psychological terms, this is known as confirmation bias. So, when presented with new information, people will sooner find a way to fit it into the framework of their existing beliefs than consider an alternative point of view.

For some individuals, confirmation bias can highlight perceived injustice, malpractice, or wrongdoing. This can provide the emotional spark that motivates the consumer to complain, particularly if they have certain expectations for the purchase and feel let down.

Once a consumer has formed a negative impression, it’s very difficult to win them over again

By the time a consumer has decided that a company is to blame, their thought process has already moved onto determining whether the fault was due to intentional deviousness or misleading information, or down to a mistake, omission, or just incompetence. At this point, the customer may either conclude that you are purposefully misleading consumers, or are negligent of quality control or standards of customer service.

At this stage, the consumer is invested in their negative opinion, and with this sunk cost they are increasingly unlikely to change their mind, admit an error of judgment, or accept that they were wrong.

Listen to your customers and show them that you hear their concerns

So, how do you stop things from progressing to the point of no return? Well, the most effective mitigation strategy you can put to use to resolve customer issues is your approach to handling customer complaints.

Test all your systems that your customers interact with. Make sure they run smoothly and are not going to cause misconceptions or confusion. The majority of complications arise from this controllable issue.

Complaint handling

Streamline your mechanism for customer complaints. Make the channel for complaints visible, accessible and simple to use. Endeavor to respond to concerns quickly and with a human touch, to show that you have understood why the individual is complaining. Don’t just deliver a generic response. Online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Pissed Consumer provide you with options to respond to complaints. Use this opportunity to handle negative feedback.

Deal with complaints quickly and show the customer that you acknowledge their issue, are grateful for their feedback, and will take their suggestions on board. Regardless of whether you are at fault, a gesture of goodwill in the form of a refund or discount will help alleviate the consumers' sense of being ripped off or mislead.

There’s a good chance that, following these tips, you can turn a negative situation into a positive by taking advantage of the opportunity to connect with your customer in a way that creates a lasting positive impression and, with luck, a loyal, long term customer.

Guest post courtesy of Joanna, Head of Marketing at PissedConsumer.com

IAM1122- CEO Helps People Launch Vending Machine Businesses

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 15:12:00 -0400

Monica Johnson is the CEO of Giants Vending Solutions, a full-service vending machine company serving the DMV area. A seasoned marketing specialist, Monica has spent years developing strategies and techniques to reach new consumers. She has an eye for branding and understands consumer behavior. Monica’s latest endeavor has her wearing many hats, being the owner and operator of Giants Vending Solutions she’s focusing on scaling her business and teaching people how to make passive income through launching their own vending machine business.

CEO Hack: YouTube for information
CEO Nugget: Never stop investing in yourself
CEO Defined: Creating a path for people to follow

Website: https://giantsvendingsolutions.com/
Philanthropic

Listen to the full podcast. This is Originally posted here.

The post IAM1122- CEO Helps People Launch Vending Machine Businesses appeared first on Black Wall Street.

27 Entrepreneurs Share Their Tips and Tricks of Staying Motivated

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 12:16:22 -0400

When the going gets rough in business, you’ll need the motivation to keep moving. Motivating yourself can be hard but practicing consistent habits such as reminding yourself of why you started can be a major boost. A network of friends and partners can also serve as a great assurance and reminder that you’re not walking.

Here are the various ways entrepreneurs and business owners stay motivated in business.

#1- Clients who express gratitude

Photo Credit: Alejandro Uriarte

We've all had tires kickers that waste our time as business owners. Our goal is to find clients and consumers who are in desperate need of our services and are willing to pay for them. When things are slow and you're starting to wonder if you're doing the right thing, a client will come along who will be appreciative for your help. Receiving comments from clients who express gratitude for how you have improved their lives keeps me motivated and going.

Thanks to Alejandro Uriarte, 1-800 Injured!

#2- Consistency and celebrating the small wins

Photo Credit: Andrew Maff

I force myself to stay in the same routine as much as possible so that I can stay focused on my day and the work I have ahead of me. I get my workout done in the morning, play with my dogs a little bit, and then get to work. It's like being on autopilot and it keeps me from being lazy in the mornings. Then, as my day goes on, I make sure to celebrate the small wins so not only my team, but I continuously feel motivated and stay aware of the things being accomplished throughout the day.

Thanks to Andrew Maff, BlueTuskr!

#3- Pursuit of success

Photo Credit: Bryan Ray

I stay motivated because I want my business to be successful and I want my family to be proud of what I've built. I want to be able to give my kids a bit of a headstart in life and be able to pass down the knowledge that I've learned and isn't taught to them in school. Each month I set small goals that will move the needle in my business. And with every small success I make, I always want to find a way to replicate it because success feels good. It's almost like a drug that you can't get enough of. Sure, there are times when I'm not motivated. And that's the most important time to just do something that will move the business toward completing another small goal.

Thanks to Bryan Ray, The Biking Apex!

#4-Stimulating clients

Photo Credit: Gerrid Smith

Working with fascinating and engaging clients keeps me motivated and engaged as a solopreneur, as does learning new strategies to expand both their and my business. There's nothing more satisfying or inspiring than knowing you're helping someone else's business development while also helping your own. And uncovering new talents and methods that help me to better deliver on my commitment to offering value to my clients keeps me
driven.

Thanks to Gerrid Smith, Joy Organics!

#5- Two ways

Photo Credit: Gregg Cantor

I stay motived by always trying to improve, even if we have a very satisfied client. At the end of the construction build or remodel, we meet with clients for a closing recap and I want to know what we can do to improve our service. Another motivator is sharing my experience with consumers. I greatly appreciate the non-paid for opportunities where I can educate and inform consumers about design, construction and home improvement. My goal is to help consumers without a sales pitch.

Thanks to Gregg Cantor, Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel!

#6- Adjusting the sails

Photo Credit: Frederick W. Penney Esq.

As the times constantly change for entrepreneurs I have learned over the 30 years of running a successful law practice and founder of other companies that you can succeed in business if you learn to adjust your sails. I have always said that it does not matter what administration is in office, if you liken yourself unto a sailboat on the ocean, you simply determine where the wind is coming from and adjust your sails accordingly. Thus, whether Obama, Bush, Trump or Biden is in office learn to adjust your sails and you will stay motivated to take your business in the direction that the political climate dictates.

Thanks to Frederick W. Penney Esq., Penney and Associates!

#7- Staying plugged in

Photo Credit: Kalina Cardoso

My way to be plugged in is to listen to business audiobooks, watch interesting interviews with inspiring entrepreneurs, scientists and thought leaders. I also listen to my favorite business podcasts. That way, I get to stay inspired by people who've seen great success but also learn.

Thanks to Kalina Cardoso

#8- Surrounding myself with positivity

Photo Credit: Blaire Brown

To stay motivated every day, I surround myself with positive go-getters and I consistently read success books. If I am working from home, I check in with entrepreneurs and small business owner groups on Facebook and other networking websites. When I meet up with friends, I choose to spend time with positive people that build each other up. Because being self-motivated is a part of the entrepreneur job description, positivity and big thinkers are integral components to keeping the motivation strong on a daily basis.

Thanks to Blaire Brown

#9- Practicing self-care

Photo Credit: Monica Eaton-Cardone

The key to staying motivated is to make sure that you give yourself time away from work to recharge. For me, this looks like getting outside and being active, or spending time with my family. A change of scenery is essential to help me refocus. When I start feeling burnt out, I know that it’s time to step away. Practicing self-care is essential, and when you give your mind and body that space to rest, I guarantee you’ll return to work with renewed motivation and a clear head.

Thanks to Monica Eaton-Cardone, Chargebacks911!

#10- Creating a mission statement

Photo Credit: Dawn Templeton

Entrepreneurship is full of challenges, risks, and failures. Stress and frustration is constant here, which makes it quite tough to stay motivated. However, I know the importance of staying determined and motivated in entrepreneurship, and so I have created a mission statement which keeps me motivated. This mission statement includes my personal set of goals, and reminds me why I started my entrepreneurship in the first place. I have
always focused on being an industry leader, and I can never settle down with anything less than that! Whenever I remember my mission of reaching the top, I automatically feel more focused and motivated towards my work and responsibilities.

Thanks to Dawn Templeton, Templeton Real Estate Group!

#11- Through yoga and meditation

Photo Credit: Scott Spivack

I believe one of the major barriers to growth and stability is stress and mental friction. With yoga and meditation, I’m able to induce a sense of calm and keep my mind stable. This helps me unwind with ease and I’m able to channel a better flow of thoughts. When my mind is free from useless thoughts and distractions, I’m able to operate better and keep myself motivated. In other words, it keeps me equipped to handle pressure and breeze past trying situations in life.

Thanks to Scott Spivack, United Medical Credit!

#12- Focusing more on my employees

Photo Credit: Jordan Duran

For any entrepreneur, staying motivated is difficult. However, one way in which I consistently remain enthused and focused on my work is to focus less on the work, and more on my employees. Indeed, employees are entrusting you to not simply be a catalyst for success, but also maintain their livelihood and well-being. Therefore, when my motivation runs thin, I choose to focus on ensuring my employees — my chosen family — have the best and brightest future imaginable.

Thanks to Jordan Duran, 6 Ice!

#13- Maintaining mind and body wellbeing

Photo Credit: Hilda Wong

One of the best ways to always stay motivated is to be healthy first. One must maintain a good routine. Physical wellness has a huge impact on mental wellness. Maintain a healthy diet and a good exercise routine to keep yourself pumped. Maintain a healthy sleeping routine too. Save time for relaxing too. Taking a short break can help you keep up with the work.

Thanks to Hilda Wong, Content Dog!

#14- Developing healthy habits

Photo Credit: Zarina Bahadur

Instead of just creating business goals, also create personal goals. Jot down what you want out of this. Whenever you lose motivation, look at these personal goals. For example, your personal goal was to be your boss, well you are an entrepreneur, you are your boss. There are thousands of entrepreneurs who have changed the world that we live in today, look at their stories, their personal lives. This will be a great source of motivation.

Thanks to Zarina Bahadur, 123 Baby Box!

#15- Remembering the Joy

Photo Credit: Nicole Krug

It's hard to stay motivated through slow cycles, or general burnout, but I find focusing

Monday Motivation: The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 09:16:11 -0400

This motivational video is to help CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners start the week off inspired to become great.

Here are some takeaways from the video:

Every little decision you make counts
Success is a daily thing
You can't change direction immediately
With self-discipline, anything is possible

The post Monday Motivation: The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong appeared first on Hearpreneur.

IAM1119- Personal Brand Specialist Enables CEOs and Executives to Define Their Brands

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 13:14:48 -0400

As a personal brand specialist with entrepreneurship in her DNA, Jen Dalton helps business owners and executives define how they show up as leaders, make the most of their strengths, and tend to their legacy, growth, and visibility. She's passionate about enabling individuals and companies to define their brands and differentiate themselves in authentic, credible, and relevant ways to the market. She is the author of The Intentional Entrepreneur (2016) and Listen: How to Embrace the Difficult Conversations Life Throws at You (December 7, 2020). An international speaker and reputation coach, she collaborates with CEOs, executives, and startups to live

Listen to the full podcast. This is Originally posted here.

25 Entrepreneurs Discuss The Technologies That Will Have the Biggest Impact On Entrepreneurship

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:16:33 -0400

We live in an era where technology goes hand in hand with business. It impacts the pace at which businesses grow and it remains interesting to see trends that will emerge from some of these technologies. A good example is the emergence of chatbots that help in the instant messaging of customers/clients.

We asked entrepreneurs and business owners about the technologies that will have the biggest impact on technology and here are the responses.

#1 – The Ethics of Digital Privacy

Photo Credit: Adam Fard

Users are becoming increasingly worried about how and where their data is utilized. Digital privacy has become a hot topic, especially since the new GDPR regulations went into effect. Organizations that fail to handle digital privacy concerns will inevitably suffer blowback from their users. As a result, internet entrepreneurs should prioritize privacy above everything else.

Thanks to Adam Fard, Adam Fard!

#2 – Wearable Tech

Photo Credit: Darshan Somashekar

Wearable technology, in my opinion, will continue to be one of the most fascinating businesses to work in for entrepreneurs. The way we wear and engage with technology is going to evolve, whether it's through smartwatches, smart glasses, or even smart clothes, as new technologies are being developed.

Thanks to Darshan Somashekar, Spider-Solitaire-Challenge!

#3 – 5G Networks

Photo Credit: Tommy Gallagher

Telecommunications companies started rolling out 5G networks this year. 5G technology provides faster connectivity with decreased latency and battery usage. This means that mobile broadband is faster than most wired broadband in the world. I believe it will encourage growth in areas such as the internet of things, smart homes, virtual reality, augmented reality, health care, media, cloud services, and other areas, resulting in huge business prospects in a variety of industries.

Thanks to Tommy Gallagher, Top Mobile Banks!

#4 – Independence

Photo Credit: Georganne Hassell

Technologies that empower independence will have a measurable, lasting impact on the future of entrepreneurship. Tools that support connections will be important as globalization continues and diverse communities look to communicate with ease. They need many ways to connect, and for some video conferencing with captioning or language interpretation is good. Those kinds of technologies that connect diverse communities in a seamless way will enable entrepreneurs to reach new audiences.

Thanks to Georganne Hassell, Sorenson Communications!

#5- Remote Working

Photo Credit: Joe Flanagan

Technologies that promote remote working and make the experience more productive for both businesses and employees will have the biggest impact on entrepreneurship. Remote working is here to stay, and entrepreneurs will continue adapting their business models to this new reality. Technologies that make it easier for teams to collaborate, communicate and coordinate, and manage remote staff effectively will change the way entrepreneurs run their businesses forever.

Thanks to Joe Flanagan, Velvet Jobs!

#6- Jam

Photo Credit: Tyler Garns

Entrepreneurs are often wearing ALL the hats in the business while they're bootstrapping through growth. So, technologies that can organize and automate work are the most impactful for entrepreneurship. Because of limited budgets, business owners cobble together multiple systems like email marketing, spreadsheets, sticky notes, whiteboards, task management, etc. This creates serious chaos in the business and in their minds. Once the data is organized, then you can get busy automating various tasks.

Thanks to Tyler Garns, Box Out Marketing!

#7- 5G Networks

Photo Credit: Michael Robinson

5G technology provides quicker communication with decreased latency and battery usage. This means that mobile broadband is faster than most wired broadband in the United States. I believe it will drive innovation in areas such as the internet of things, smart homes, augmented reality, virtual reality, health care, media, cloud services, and other areas, resulting in huge business prospects in a variety of industries.

Thanks to Micheal Robinson, Security Expert!

#8- ADAPT OR VANISH

Photo Credit: Randy VanderVaate

Communication technologies will have the biggest impact on entrepreneurship in the coming years. This year we started using a predictive dialer, and it has saved us time and money while increasing our productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Using a predictive dialer improves our outbound call volume, lessens agent downtime, and increasing our agents' productivity and profitability. It has allowed us to scale our call center by supporting mobile, SMS, and email campaigns while reducing labor and operational costs.

Thanks to Randy Vander Vaate, Funeral Funds of America!

#9- Adaptability Training

Photo Credit: Jeremy Yamaguchi

I think adaptability training will have the biggest impact on entrepreneurs going forward. It's a necessary tool to have in your arsenal, and those who accept it as a crucial part of their training will have a leg up from the creation of the business to pivoting should the need arise.

Thanks to JeremyYamaguchi, Lawn Love!

#10- Artificial Intelligence

Photo Credit: Julian Goldie

AI has evolved at a considerable pace, so considerable that it has finally started to engulf every known field of work and services. While its maturation and development are indeed getting faster, the adoption rate is still not up to par. However, this will soon change in the next four to five years, and AI will be the dominant force for every business. In my business, we have already known that AI-based tools and utilities are in place: AI-assisted writer, AI-assisted data generator/definer, and several other things.

Thanks to Julian Goldie, Goldie Agency!

#11- AI-led Video Content Development

Photo Credit: Deepika Pillai

AI-led video content development will have the biggest impact on entrepreneurship. Social media channels are heavily pushing video content. This makes video production one of the most sought-after marketing and outreach techniques that entrepreneurs of all stages will need to use to connect with their prospects and customers. Technologies like deep learning, machine learning, and natural language processing are integral to
this transformational new wave of video production, development, and broadcasting.

Thanks to Deepika Pillai, Kula Village!

#12- Artificial Intelligence

Photo Credit: Alain Sobol

Companies that implement AI applications are going to become more diverse, as they will be powered with the ability to analyze data across multiple functionalities, fraud detection, and high-class customer relationship management.AI will play an enormous role when it comes to analyzing the market and your customers. Customer experience will go to the next level through customer insights. We have already embraced chatbots and virtual assistants but this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Thanks to Alain Sobol, Red Sea Diving College!

#13- Robotics and Automation

Photo Credit: Justin Rule

As technology changes and becomes more disruptive, entrepreneurs need to pay attention to new technologies and how they can utilize them. Providers are moving more and more towards robotics and automation. Robots don't get sick, and the new cobots are designed to work alongside and collaborate with their human colleagues. The healthcare industry is turning to reality tools such as Virtual and Augmented Reality and Extended Reality, which, as an example, allow for eye exams using hi-res cameras.

Thanks to Justin Rule, Sparrow Websites!

#14- Internet of Things

Photo Credit: David Clelland

The technologies that will have the most significant impact on entrepreneurship are AI (artificial intelligence) and IoT (internet of things). With AI starting to progress more and more each day, it is already impacting entrepreneurship. But, with the developments, more changes will happen. Businesses are already beginning to rely heavily on AI. It can automate tasks and know the next move based on data that is fed to it. Entrepreneurship can benefit significantly from it. We can also rely on AI to help us improve our businesses.

Thanks to David Clelland, Infiniti Tracking!

#15- Artificial Intelligence

Website: https://www.genevievepiturro.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pajamaprogram
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genevievepiturro
Twitter: https://twitter.com/genpiturro
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenPiturro

Book: https://www.genevievepiturro.com/book

Transcript:

Intro 0:02
Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview? If so, you’ve come to the right place, Gresham Harkless values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you’re in search of. This is the I am CEO podcast.

Gresham Harkless 0:31
Hello, hello. Hello, this is Gresh from the IAMCEO podcast and I have a very special guest on the show today. I have Genevieve Piturro of genevievepiturro.com. Genevieve, it's awesome having on the show.

Genevieve Piturro 0:40
Hi, Gresh lovely to be here.

Gresham Harkless 0:43
No problem. Super excited to have you on and before we jumped in, I want to read a little bit more about Genevieve so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing. Genevieve was a TV executive in NYC for 20 years when a little girl’s question changed the course of her life – and she jumped off the corporate ladder. She began delivering pajamas and books to children in shelters and in 2001 founded Pajama Program, a national non-profit which is recognized for both its success – to date having delivered 7 million new pajamas and new books to children – and Genevieve’s story. Genevieve is a professional speaker and consultant, inspiring people to listen to their heart-voice connection to achieve success. Her first book: Purpose, Passion and Pajamas: How to Transform Your Life, Embrace the Human Connection and Lead with Meaning, was just released on August 4th. Genevieve has been interviewed on various media including OPRAH, TODAY, GMA, CNN, Fox & Friends, O Magazine and Forbes and is the recipient of many awards. Genevieve great to have you on the show. Are you ready to speak to the IAMCEO community?

Genevieve Piturro 1:49
I'm ready, Gresh.

Gresham Harkless 1:50
Let's do it. So to kick everything off, I know I touched on it a little bit, I wanted to hear a little bit more about your CEO story. What led you to get started with all the awesome things you're working on?

Genevieve Piturro 1:59
Well, you know, growing up the first four, and then a tie and family and I mean, Italian my father off the boat wanted us to get an education. That's why he came to this country. You know, his father brought him here. And I also think, because there were two girls and two boys, he expected the girls to have a family you know, grandchildren. But education was always first. And for some reason I did not have that ticking clock to have children. But I did have that Mary Tyler Moore clock I wanted to be Mary China more. I wanted to be the woman, BP or president of some something in TV journalism. And everything she did, I just loved. I wanted to be single, I want to be successful. I wanted to live on my own in a big city. I watched her you know, late at night hiding, you know when I wasn't supposed to be up. And I was on my way. So that's where I was headed. I went to college as my dad wanted. But I got a job and I wanted a career. So, you know, I know that both my parents were a little unsure of what I was doing as the first of their four. But there was no question in my mind. So I did that. I started working in Manhattan became a workaholic, very quickly climbing the corporate ladder of the corporate of the television syndication business, which is basically runs. And I loved it. And it was a time when money was flowing in the 80s never been a time like that sense. Which is, which is a good thing looking back and you know, through my life now. But it was a really good life and I loved it. And what happened rush is that in my late 30s, being single living in the, you know, in Riverdale, right outside Manhattan having this really great job and fun life. I heard a voice in me one afternoon in my co op. And it was just me. And though I looked around, I heard it. I knew where it came from. And it came from my heart and it wasn't a voice in my head. I have those two. But the voice said to me in a whisper. If this is the next 30 years of your life. Is it enough? And it was it was such a shock first to hear it. I sat down and instantly I knew the answer was no. I had missed something. There was something in in my heart that made me ask myself that question that was missing. And I realized I was alone. I would be alone. I was working so much. I was having fun, but it meant nothing. It wasn't helping anyone. It was making people rich and successful. I had nice things, but it was empty in a second that came to me and I had I knew I had to make a change.

Gresham Harkless 5:01
That's extremely powerful. And I mean, I think there's so many people that probably are listening to this can definitely resonate with that and kind of going through, I guess the the day in day activities and operation and being driven towards reaching goals and aspirations that sometimes we kind of forget, or maybe are reminded might be a better way to say it of what we ultimately want to do. Not to say that what we're doing isn't necessarily that, but just maybe there needs to be a time to kind of pivot or make a shift.

Genevieve Piturro 5:32
Yeah, it came to me in that way. You know, and it's never too late. But of course, I I thought, you know, people who had those aha moments or, or change their lives so dramatically, to do good work, you know, famous rich people or people from history, change the world. I didn't think ordinary people could have that epiphany, or have that voice. And maybe we all do, we don't listen to it. And maybe I've had it a million times before that day. And that was the day listen to it.

Gresham Harkless 6:02
Yeah, absolutely. So funny as you say that, because I always felt like I was a big believer that we sometimes we get small signs, and then they start to build up and get louder and decide to really shape. Exactly, exactly, especially for her to people like me, a lot of times, you have to get that to really know that you need to make that change. So, right. Yeah, absolutely. So I guess Tell me a little bit about what that change accomplished. What exactly position to and how you create that organization that provides so much value?

Genevieve Piturro 6:28
Sure. Well, I didn't know what what to do in that moment. So I immediately knew a couple of things that what I was doing had no meaning. Other than financial really, and, and status, you know, because I wanted something I had colleagues and you know, everyone was on the same path. But I wanted to find something that made a difference. And when I realized, at 38, I didn't have children. Obviously, I knew that didn't just realize at that moment, but I realized it was probably a little late to start figuring that part out. I thought, How else can I get children in my life because I knew that was missing. And with nephews and nieces I loved and adored. I wanted more of that a little closer to me. And I thought I could read to children and shelters. Maybe I read the papers. We all do see the news reports of you know, what happens to some of these children were brought to shelters what happened to bring them there, and it was horrific. And pre 911 you could do what I did. I simply called the police. I asked them where do you bring the children that are harmed in the middle of the night that we read about? Where do they go, who takes care of them? And they gave me some names of shelters. I started calling around. And I literally said to anyone who answered Hi, I'm a nice lady, can I come and read to the kids at night after work? Again, before 911 you could do that. And I was well received as in how lovely sure Come on in. So they're off, I went to my business suit with a bag full of children's storybooks, off to shelters. And the first time I'll never forget, I was obviously ridiculously overdressed and ridiculous costume compared to what was really what my reality was going to be within five minutes there. And there were places for me to sit because it was a pretty bare room in a shelter. That was I think it was hidden because I had to be escorted up and I was I was told this by police and some other people that a lot of them don't even have a name on the door. You know there are emergency shelters for for women. Sometimes we're running with a baby or children. So I was sitting I went up, there was a very bare room. There weren't chairs that I could sit in. There were small little chairs. So I sat on the floor, my back in my business suit. And in comes a group of about a dozen kids with a staffer. And they were they were just so meek. There were about a dozen boys and girls. They were maybe five to eight years old. They quietly came in they saw me sitting on the floor, they sat on the floor with me. I opened the bag and took out a book. I was so I was a fish out of water. They were so quiet. I I don't know what I was thinking I was just so ignorant. I thought I'd make a party. It was not a party atmosphere. So I started to read the stories and it was very quiet. And I was very quiet and I showed the pictures like teacher does. So this happened week after week, different places I'd go to some might return always different children. And one night I got up and I followed where the staff were taking these children to go to sleep in the other room. And I peered in and it broke my heart It was all it had in there were two or three or four couches or food. tongs or cots, single, single beds like a child's bed. And if there were no more than the number of beds of children, then they would be coupled up two or three under surface. Some of them were hugging. Some of them were crying, nothing to change into. The staff were lovely, but it wasn't the bedtime I had. And I immediately went back and I was flooded with memories. Going back to when my mom had bedtime for us for kids. It was so much fun. We put our pajamas on and we protested with a lot of whatever john was on. He bring us a snack with one more snacks, we'd giggle she'd meet us the stories or she make up stories. We had worn pajamas or we got to pick which ones we wanted to wear. She snuggled with us purpose in his Dyson, you know, love you three dreams. And off we went back, you know, right to sleep into dreams. never afraid, always just took for granted. She'd be there in the morning and everything would be okay, even if you had a bad day. Now, all of that just came racing into my into my brain. And that's what I remembered. As, as they were leading me out the door I turned on, I said, Do you think I could bring some pajamas next week? I don't know why I said that. It just sort of fell out of my mouth. And the woman said, Oh, that would be so nice. No one's ever thought of that. We try to do the best we can. But that would be so nice. So all week. You know, I didn't think about my job. All I could think about were those kids and how many pajamas and how many kids? No one can tell me who'd be there. And I went shopping nearly every night looking for sales, buying every size every every shape I could, so that not one child would be left out?

Gresham Harkless 11:47
Could you take us through exactly like what you're doing with the organization and what you feel kind of sets that organization apart. It makes it unique and secret sauce, so to speak.

Genevieve Piturro 11:53
I think early on, because I didn't tell many people, because I really was I didn't know how it would be received. You know, I couldn't imagine telling my colleagues Actually, I did try. Tell a friend of mine. And she laughed at me. And that set me back emotionally from telling anybody else. I went to my parents and my dad was a little skeptical but came around my mother understood. You know, she's she's a wonderful mother. She's a loving mother. She got it. And she figured all the other stuff about making a living would come at this at the time, you know, sometimes not sometimes doesn't say sometimes always. When you're on your path. The universe is your partner, right? Yeah, you're nodding. So you get it.

Gresham Harkless 12:36
Yes.

Genevieve Piturro 12:37
And I met a man who was the right man. And he was the right man. Because when I told him what I was thinking about doing, he said, Go for it. He didn't say What about your money? What about our money? What about this? What? So anyway, from that moment on, I had somebody whose support meant everything to me. My mom's, though I had two cheerleading squad members, I say, and that is that is so necessary for anyone starting anything to have those people rallying for you, because there'll be plenty of naysayers. So because it was so small, and it was just me. And then my husband helped me and my mom was cheering me on, I had to pick something small. So I thought, bedtime, that was a terrific what I saw pajamas and books, as all I can manage. And for 20 years, next year, per child, probably 20 years, I did this for two or three years before getting our 501 c three, because I didn't even know what that was. That's a whole other story.

Gresham Harkless 13:28
I wanted to switch gears a little bit. And I want to ask you for what I call a CEO hack. So this could be like an app or book or a habit that you have, or something that makes you more effective and efficient.

Genevieve Piturro 13:38
Oh, I meditate every morning, I would say that first. I lead with, I try to if I have a hard time with something, or someone, I try to imagine that there might be something going on that's below the surface. So before taking it personally, I try to be gentler. And maybe that's something that's come out of the last six months for me, I'd like to say I've always been that way. But I have been so conscious of it now. Because so many things are not personal that I think we take as being personal. And I think if we take a breath and and say there might be something really difficult for this person in the moment, and I happen to be the one that's standing here with that person.

Gresham Harkless 14:28
Exactly, exactly. So now when it asked me for what I call a CEO, nugget, so this could be a word of wisdom or a piece of advice. It might be something if you were to happen to a time machine, you would tell your younger business. self.

Genevieve Piturro 14:40
Listen to your heart voice. Listen to it. It's talking and if you don't hear it, ask it to speak up.

Gresham Harkless 14:47
Awesome. And so now when they asked me my absolute favorite question, which is the definition of what it means to be a CEO, and we're all gonna have different quote unquote CEOs on the show, so generally what does being a CEO mean to you?

Genevieve Piturro 14:56
I would say the first thing that comes to mind is an acronym I would say passion, equity. And that's a good Oh, I would say we all need a little pizzazz. So maybe a little ole.

Gresham Harkless 15:08
Yeah, I absolutely love that. And I feel like that whole leg goes right in line with passion. And you know, all those things we need a little bit or a lot of bit of Olay in our lives. So I love that acronym. And that definition that prospective, because it just kind of encompasses everything that you talked about, and that we should always stand in for. So truly appreciate that. And I appreciate your time even more. What I wanted to do is pass you the mic so to speak, just to see if there's anything additional you want. Let our readers and listeners know and of course how best they can get a copy of the book and hear about all the awesome things you're working on.

Genevieve Piturro 15:39
Everything is on my website genevievepiturro.com. Of course pajamaprogram.org is where you can find all things pajama program and my book audiobook and Kindle ebook will be on Amazon. So that's where you can find everything and everyone.

Gresham Harkless 15:57
Awesome, awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much interview what we'll do is we'll have the links and information in the show notes as well too. So everybody can click through and and get a copy of the book and find out about all the awesome things. I thank you so much for that and I thank you so much for what you do and I hope you have a great rest of the day.

Outro 16:11
Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO podcast powered by Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at IAMCEO.CO. I am CEO is not just a phrase, it’s a community. Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Subscribe and leave us a five-star rating. Grab CEO gear a www.CEOgear.co This has been the I AM CEO podcast with Gresham Harkless. Thank you for listening.

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Founder Helps Businesses Increase Their Online Visibility

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 05:02:05 -0400

Lance Bachmann, President of 1SEO.com, founded the company to help local, national and international businesses with increasing their online visibility through search engine optimization and is now a Google Premier Partner and Facebook Partner ranking the top 1% of digital marketing agencies. The former Vice President of AT&T and Premise Division founder of YellowPages.com, Lance is an American entrepreneur and marketer that now heads an award-winning agency in addition to his tech & cabling company, Shock I.T. Support. Since 2009, Lance and 1SEO have cultivated their team and talents, each year expanding, and receiving numerous prestigious industry awards including three US Search Awards titles.

CEO Hack: Have a routine
CEO Nugget: Go for it – It's not about them but about you
CEO Defined: Being a father and taking care of your family (employees)

Websites: https://1seo.com/

Personal Website: https://DigitalLion.com
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/Lancebachmanndigital/
Instagram – @LanceBachmann

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Transcript:

[fusebox_transcript]

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Jewelry Designer Creates Versatile Designs With Indo-Western Elements

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 04:55:41 -0400

Jinal Sampat is jewelry designer at Sampat Jewellers. Her focus is on innovation and creation of jewelry pieces that are meaningful and hold long term value. She creates versatile designs with Indo-Western elements. Jinal holds her graduate degree from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).

CEO Hack: Writing 20% of the things that will help us achieve 80% success every Sunday
CEO Nugget: Focus on the resources you have and build your business
CEO Defined: Working on the business, not in the business

Website:https://sampatjewelers.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sampatjewellers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SampatJewellers/

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Serial Entrepreneur Creates HyperGrowth Products and Product Teams

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 03:47:40 -0400

David Cancel is a serial entrepreneur, podcast host (Seeking Wisdom) and angel investor/advisor. He is best known for creating hypergrowth products and product teams at companies such as Drift, HubSpot, Performable, Ghostery and Compete. David was named the top-ranked CEO by of USA Today and has been featured by media outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Wired, and Fast Company, and has guest lectured on entrepreneurship at Harvard, Harvard Business School, MIT, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Bentley, and other universities.

CEO Hack: Reading a lot and multiple books at one time
CEO Nugget: It takes years of persistence and resilience to learn the important lessons in life
CEO Defined: Chief explainer officer

Website: https://www.drift.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcancel
Book: www.drift.com/book
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcancel

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IAM1118- Entrepreneur Designs the Most Sought Out Cake Decorations

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 14:13:20 -0400

Bria Taylor is not your average buttercream queen. Her graphic design influenced cakes make her one of the most sought out cake decorators in the DMV. She continues to surprise us with her amazing flavors and cake designs, but it is her perseverance as a young entrepreneur that keeps her going. She hopes to open a cake studio and classroom in the future to bring Killa Cakes to every baker enthusiasts home.

CEO Hack: Writing everything down
CEO Nugget: It's hard when people don't like your work
CEO Defined: Being your business

Website: http://www.killacakes.com/
Instagram: @killacakes

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15 Entrepreneurs Explain the Role of Networking Organizations and Groups in the Future of Entrepreneurship

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:16:31 -0400

Networking facilitates the exchange of ideas and is a powerful way for entrepreneurs to gain new opportunities. It inspires people to reach for greater goals if done objectively. Networking organizations and groups (both physical and virtual) have played a big role in entrepreneurship and it remains interesting to see what the future holds.

Here's what entrepreneurs and business owners had to say on the role of networking organizations and groups in the future of entrepreneurship.

#1- Strong connections

Photo Credit: Kathryn McDavid

Strong networking skills have been and will always be a massive propellor for entrepreneurs and their businesses. Having a strong network in your own industry is helpful in learning the ropes initially and promoting continued growth. Knowledge spillover and advice from experienced entrepreneurs who have already perfected their own operations is beyond helpful. But helpful connections are helpful to make outside your own industry as well. You will need to collaborate with other businesses to be successful. Is there someone you can trust for financial advice or assistance? Perhaps you know someone who could fulfill marketing needs you may have. There are so many pieces at play in a business, and having strong connections to experts of those facets will allow you to build a strong organization.

Thanks to Kathryn McDavid, Editor's Pick!

#2- Shared Knowledge

Photo Credit: Brian Dean

Networking is a great way to share information and ideas. It will help you expand your knowledge and allow you to see things from a different viewpoint, whether you ask for feedback or explain your point of view. Within a group, it's also possible that there will be people who have been where you are now. This gives you the chance to learn from their mistakes and avoid some of the difficulties they encountered.

Thanks to Brian Dean, Exploding Topics!

#3- Decimating typical meetups

Photo Credit: Jeremy Yamaguchi

I think networking groups have become virtual for good. Many existed virtually before COVID, but the lockdown decimated typical meetups that would occur for the sake of networking. More virtual groups rose up to take their place and Facebook groups really cemented themselves as top networking organizations.

Thanks to Jeremy Yamaguchi, Lawn Love!

#4- Fewer barriers to entry

Photo Credit: Erin Zadoorian

I believe that networking groups will be responsible for facilitating cooperation among like-minded individuals, allowing them to develop more concepts that will reinvent the field of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs will have a channel via which future collaborations may be created with the help of networking groups. As a result, newcomers will find entrepreneurship less daunting since they will have access to the advice and expertise of professionals in their field. This will make the barriers to entry into the entrepreneurial world more manageable, allowing reluctant seekers to become entrepreneurs themselves. This will eventually result in an influx of entrepreneurs in the near future.

Thanks to Erin Zadoorian, Ministry of Hemp!

#5- Improved access to professional talents worldwide

Photo Credit: Stephan Jacob

Gone are the days that small businesses serve local communities alone. Today, more small businesses are interested in dropshipping and developing mobile apps that can serve global clients as well. Networking has helped small businesses scout professional talents worldwide and bring in products that connect well to diverse customers. As more smart devices are developed to serve this purpose, I am certain that networking will help small businesses achieve global recognition and serve the world market efficiently even on a small scale in the future.

Thanks to Stephan Jacob, BestForAndroid!

#6- Boosting standing and credibility

Photo Credit: Haim Medine

In-person networking will always be a source of support for entrepreneurs seeking mentorship or advice. You can't mentor someone online on how to face business challenges or offer feedback based on similar past experiences to a fellow entrepreneur. Informal physical settings promote human connection and are where entrepreneurs can exchange business notes, insight, customer referrals, and other valuable resources to help move their businesses forward.

Thanks to Haim Medine, Mark Henry!

#7- More growth

Photo Credit: Ross Kernez

As the founder of the NYC-based seomeetup.org, I can attest to the power a professional community contributes to an entrepreneurial journey. Namely, shared passion and a healthy interdependence – the very things that lead to growth within a collective group. During the global pandemic, the entrepreneurs in my organization came together online for support, inspiration, and community, just as in regular times. From my perspective, in the future, entrepreneurs will rely heavily on networking groups and organizations to thrive and grow in an increasingly interconnected world.

Thanks to Ross Kernez, SEO Meetup!

#8- Easier to navigate through changes

Photo Credit: Nicholas Vasiliou

Networking organizations and groups are key in entrepreneurship, especially when it comes to health and wellness, an industry where building trust is so crucial. Though founders starting out are often set on their own visions and strategies, they’ll often find that once they start reaching out, many entrepreneurs are willing (and even eager) to help them with open arms. Pausing to gain insights and strategies from seasoned professionals is crucial in avoiding pitfalls and even minor mistakes that can cause major setbacks and headaches. Social networking, in particular, especially this past year, is absolutely essential in building a business while navigating constantly changing environments, protocols, and policies.

Thanks to Nicholas Vasiliou, BioHealth Nutrition!

#9- Fresh collaborations

Photo Credit: Jeanine Duval

I believe that in the future, networking groups will focus more on cross-industry collaboration. Gone are the days of only collaborating within your own niche. Over the past couple years, we have learned so much about the potential of possible collaborations due to the constraints of remote work. We are all connected through this digital landscape, making collaboration more possible than we ever could have imagined. I think we will begin to see a surge of not only like-minded businesses, but like-minded industries working together and helping each other grow. Networking organizations will continue to expand and harbour more interesting relationships. This in turn will promote more exciting and unexpected collaboration that could help all kinds of industries grow
exponentially!

Thanks to Jeanine Duval, Edelwyn!

#10- Rise in digital networking

Photo Credit: David Aylor

In traditional industries like law, physical networking organizations will always be around. These days, I’m getting a lot of value from networking groups on Facebook, through which I’ve met other lawyers, referral partners, and even potential clients. These groups are easy enough to create, which means more specialized groups than traditional ones – there are groups for specific areas of practice, subject, or location. You can meet colleagues and peers across the country or even the globe, which is especially of interest when you deal in an industry that is drastically different from country to country. With digital networking groups, there is no pressure to be active. You can fit these groups into a jam-packed schedule because you only log on and read when you can, with no extra pressure to participate.

Thanks to David Aylor, David Aylor Law Offices!

#11- Widening horizons and learning opportunities

Building connections is one of the most important things to do when you’re an entrepreneur. It’s essential to form relationships with others, whether in your industry or not. This is how you can widen your horizons and learn new things. Networking organizations are now on the rise. These are created to help people make new connections and relationships. This is one big and important move for entrepreneurship. Having groups that help entrepreneurs make connections and find people they can help or help them will give everyone a wider reach. Helping each other in business is important, so having a networking group allows entrepreneurship to flourish. It will also encourage people to try being entrepreneurs, knowing that they have people who will help and support
them.

Thanks to David Clelland, Infiniti Tracking!

#12- Scaling businesses

Photo Credit: Denis Jastrzebski

Networking was, is and always will be the best way to scale a business. If you know someone and they know you, and you do similar things in business, you are both going to benefit. That's the fundamentals of networking. A referral or business connection can have lifetime value while paying a research company to find a supplier that does not have the same human connection, and really, that's what networking comes down to; making a human connection.

Thanks to Denis Jastrzebski, Hawking Design!

#13- More inclination to seek help and make connections

Photo Credit: Deepak Shukla

Due to the pandemic and the increase of unemployment, there has been a surge in entrepreneurs of all ages. With this new interest in entrepreneurship, I also see an increase in networking organizations. People will be more inclined to seek help and make connections. Networking organizations will represent an opportunity to help new entrepreneurs grow and will always be beneficial to the future of entrepreneurship.

Thanks to Deepak Shukla, Pearl Lemon!

#14- Various roles

Photo Credit: Paige Arnof-Fenn

We are social in nature so online and offline events are great for networking. You can meet prospective clients/customers, employers, employees, thought leaders, etc. For the foreseeable future entrepreneurs will continue to build networks through online marketing and social media especially LinkedIn so that they can be found. It adds credibility and transparency when you know the people you are meeting or working with know people in common. LinkedIn has become more than an online resume or rolodex, it is the foundation for building trusted relationships in the digital economy. This has helped me grow my business. I think remote networking will continue post-Covid. With Zoom, social media, cell phones, etc. we see that technology does not have to be isolating it can be used to build our real-world communities and relationships too!

Thanks to Paige Arnof-Fenn, Mavens & Moguls!

#15- Improving business performance

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Entrepreneurs Build A Copper-Based Brand With Purpose

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 09:16:48 -0400

After contracting COVID-19, three then-recent college graduates, Nick O'Brien, CFO and an economics student, Issac Lichter, CEO and a trained engineer, and Andrew Medland, COO and a public-health student noticed a problem: copper is an underutilized resource in the fight against bacteria and viruses. They came up with an idea to utilize copper’s inherent germ-fighting properties to develop purposeful products and make our everyday devices and tools (copper iPhone and AirPod cases, masks, and more) safer and less petri-dish-like to better protect consumer health. Flash forward a year later, Alloi has seen continued growth as a DTC brand, is hiring new staff, working on new products, and just expanded their donation process – focusing on giving back to first responders and healthcare workers.

We had a chance to interview Isaac Lichter, CEO of Alloi and asked about their story, how they started their business and the future of Alloi.

Tell us your story. Why did you start your business?

Our story began in March, 2020. Myself, Isaac Lichter, and Nick O’Brien, who would go on to become my co-founders, were at the time just my college friends. Everything changed on the 5th, when Isaac and I tested positive for COVID. At the time, Coronavirus as it was then known, was thought to be mostly in Asia, a mild flu like disease which couldn’t affect most of humanity. After our experience with the illness, we knew that these assumptions were wrong; at least thousands of people were going to get very sick, and we were underprepared to fight back. While in quarantine, we started to think of ways we could help, and came across an article explaining that copper kills Coronavirus. We were initially skeptical, but found mountains of scientific evidence that this was true, and had been known for over 2,000 years. We assumed with this evidence, and use of copper, that these properties would be utilized everywhere, but they weren't. So we set out to become the first copper products company, designed to make antimicrobial goods to slow the spread of germs.

How did you come up with your business name?

Our name Alloi, comes from “alloy”- a mixture of two or more metals, which blend together to form a metal with properties that derive from each of its individual components. Alloys are everywhere around us, with common examples such as steel which builds the world we see everyday. Alloys are used extensively for their unique properties in manufacturing, but rarely for aesthetic purposes in personal products. We started this company solely focused on copper, but now we’re branching out to reach the full potential of a wide range of alloys.

Tell us about your products and services. How do you help clients?

We make personal products, primarily phone cases, using our copper-based antimicrobial alloys. As a result of the average smartphone user touching them hundreds to thousands of times per day, phone cases typically harbor as many germs as a public toilet seat! Objects like this can carry germs for days, which in turn creates an infection risk. We use the naturally antimicrobial properties of copper to create products that kill both bacteria and viruses on its surface. And we use different alloys of copper to give each of them a completely unique appearance.

What makes you unique? What is your unique selling proposition (USP)?

I like to think our position is unique for two main reasons. Firstly, we are the only company using copper to create antimicrobial phone cases. While there are antimicrobial plastics that kill certain bacteria, they often need to be reapplied. Copper kills bacteria and viruses and does so almost indefinitely. Secondly, from a visual perspective, we are unique in that we’re exploring the use of alloys to create a wide range of personal products. While alloys have been used in manufacturing and other fields like interior design, we are the first to bring this technology to the things you touch most.

Where do you see your business in the next 3-5 years?

The first phase of our business was to develop a unique alloy technology and to incorporate it with the products that people interact with most. However, from a public health perspective, we’ve realized that our copper-based technology can go much further. The eventual goal is to expand into high-touch surfaces into homes, offices, public transit, and more. While an antimicrobial phone case will protect the case and to a lesser extent your hands, putting copper on high-touch surfaces in high-traffic areas acts as a disease transmission barrier. This could mitigate disease transmission everywhere and especially important locations such as hospitals, where HAIs (healthcare acquired infections) account for thousands of lives and nearly $30 billion dollars worth of cost every year. A recent study showed that placing copper on the high-touch surfaces in a hospital wing decreased infections by 56%. Our goal in 3-5 years is to bring those results to every level of society.

Any advice you would give to entrepreneurs and business owners?

It seems trite, but the two most important things are to start, and then to focus. Our company started as “Oh, that’s interesting,” after reading an article. We had absolutely no idea if it would work, or if anyone would care. Granted, it was easier to just start something new at the beginning of quarantine, but the point remains; you will never know what something could be until you try it. The next most important point is to focus, almost obsessively, on one thing. When we realized we could coat any surface with copper, we wanted to coat everything from door handles, railings, trains, buses, shopping carts, roller coasters, stadiums, prisons, and even the White House. Our “brainstorm” sessions were essentially naming every surface on Earth. But our business started thriving when we sat down and focused only on the phone case. It’s easy to get distracted by other ideas, even if they seem better than your current one. If you execute one well, it's easy to move onto another idea, but you must focus on one at a time.

What is your favorite business quote and why?

This isn’t a quote, but a mental model I learned from Charlie Munger, the famous business partner of Warren Buffett. Amongst other things, he is widely renowned for these mental models – ways of thinking through any problem that helped him throughout his career. While all are worth reading and considering, my favorite is simple: invert. Whenever you are thinking of a problem, flip it upside down and consider the opposite perspective. In a business example, instead of asking “Why should we make a phone case?”, ask “Why shouldn’t we make a phone case?” and work backwards. It seems simple, but it completely changes the perspective in your mind, makes you more objective, and generally leaves you better prepared to make a decision. This inversion can be applied to every decision in both your personal and professional life.

What have been some of the achievements that you are most proud of? Why?

The first thing that I am proud of is our donation program, which has sent over 5,000 cases to nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals across the country. At the beginning of the pandemic, we heard of nurses repeatedly having to change their phone cases and clean them constantly throughout the day, so it was a truly humbling feeling to give them even a small piece of mind. After that, I am personally proud that we were able to start this company, especially during this past year. It takes a certain leap of faith to invest all of your money and time into a project which statistically is more likely to fail than not, but those risks have taught me more than any of my previous education.

Anything else additional you want to tell our readers?

Find an opportunity, or a market inefficiency, and exploit it. We realized that no one made copper products, so we started making them. If you think about something that doesn’t exist, that five people you know would want, make it. You never know what might happen.

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IAM1114- Founder Empowers Women to Achieve Their Objectives

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 20:58:44 -0400

Ms. Howard is an entrepreneurial, Strategic Information Management Professional and Empowerment Mindset Coach with extensive experience. Collaborative communicator continually focused on building relationships and promoting synergy across business units to drive positive change. Ms. Howard quickly and accurately understands the need to lead and empower women to develop the confidence, clarity, and behaviors necessary to achieve their professional and personal objectives. Voices of Encouragement, LLC. strives to empower women. Our organization provides dynamic empowerment coaching to between the ages to women between 18-65+ giving them the essential tools needed to thrive as valued and empowered women. They work on many

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Monday Motivation: CONTROL YOUR MIND

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 09:16:37 -0400

This motivational video is to help CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners start the week off inspired to become great.

Here are some takeaways from the video:

Your mind has to be stronger than your feelings
Focus on what you're gaining when you get up
The biggest enemy you have to deal with is yourself
Tough things make us stronger

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IAM1112- Chef Takes the Hassle Out of Dining Out

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 12:02:37 -0400

Chris Spear, is the chef and owner of Perfect Little Bites, an in-home personal chef business based in Frederick, Maryland. He’s also the host of the Chefs Without Restaurants podcast, and the man behind the culinary networking organization of the same name. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Chris has been working in the foodservice industry for almost 30 years.⁣

CEO Hack: My network
CEO Nugget: Get out there and do it
CEO Defined: Being able to be my true self and run a business with integrity

Website: http://perfectlittlebites.com/

Learn About Chefs Without Restaurants

Instagram: @chefswithoutrestaurants
@perfectlittlebites
Twitter: @chefsworestos
@prfctlitlbites

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IAM1110- Blogger Helps Individuals Reach Their Goals

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 12:41:08 -0400

Roli Edema is a personal development blogger and a digital marketer. Her work has been featured on various online publications including Under30CEO, Thrive Global, and Addicted2Success. Roli has published hundreds of articles on topics relating to self-improvement, online learning, positive mindset shifts, and overcoming anxiety. Through her blog, Roli reaches an audience of professionals and entrepreneurs, and shares useful tools to help individuals reach their goals.

CEO Hack: Personal development planning
CEO Nugget: Focus on why you can do something and become one of the exemptions
CEO Defined: Constantly exploring opportunities and being proactive

Website: https://www.roliedema.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roliedema

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IAM1109- Founder Drives Engagement Within Teams

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 12:30:20 -0400

Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks Founder and CEO of KeepWOL has over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, product creation, software program management, staffing management, and engineering. She’s worked at 5 different Fortune 500 companies and is no stranger to being the “first” or “only.”
She’s the first Black woman to graduate from The University of Kansas’ Aerospace Engineering Department and the first Black woman to win the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) international design competition. She’s a recipient of the Women in Technology Rising Star Award, and she has an MBA in Operations Management.
Though she’s an engineer by trade, at

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Film Director Makes Animated Films

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 04:22:16 -0400

Nicole Russin-McFarland is a film director and film score composer. Successful with her short fims, she is currently self animating her first animated feature film for release called The Homework's Revenge: Esther in Wonderland. Esther in Wonderland's film score album has already earned itself over 100,000 Spotify streams. After this project is available, Nicole will begin making larger budget animated films.

Next, she will be making 1 animated feature film about Ireland and 1 about Scotland. The goal is to finance them as her first large budget independent films and then have them animated by UK animation teams. After that, the goal will be jumping to a studio level ideally making a motion capture film in New Zealand financed by the studios.

CEO Hack: I don't care what other people think of me
CEO Nugget: Don't waste your time where you don't belong
CEO Defined: Following what you want to do even when it's scary

Website: http://www.cinematnic.com/

Twitter: @nicrussin
Instagram: @nicrussin
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/nicrussin/?_rdc=1&_rdr

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CBNation Feed

22 Entrepreneurs Reveal The Companies They Admire Most For Innovation

#1- Apple

#2- Tesla

#3- Shopify

#4- IBM

#5- Shiseido

#6- Airbnb

#7- Virgin Group

#8- Zoom!

#9- Basecamp

#10- Mindbody

#11- Microsoft

#12- Figma

#13- Google

#14- Walt Disney

#15- Walmart

Improved Benefits Packages

Risk Management

Workers’ Compensation

IAM1136- Entrepreneur Makes Business Fun

6 Ways Businesses Can Attract (And Keep) Talented Graduates

Communicate your mission

Provide a flexible environment

Focus on their onboarding training

Offer a career path

Create a safe work environment

Partner with colleges

Final thoughts

IAM1135- Prison Reform Activist Helps Shift the Prison Paradigm

Alibaba.com Launches Its First-Ever Grant Program

Monday Motivation: KEEP GOING – The Most Powerful Motivational Speech

IAM1134- Entrepreneur Shares Raw Lessons of his Journey

IAM1133- Founder Helps Companies Improve their Hiring Practices

26 Entrepreneurs Explain The Essential Skills One Needs To Be a CEO

#1- Soft skills

#2- Ambition and vision

#3- Awareness and emotional intelligence

#4- Ability to delegate tasks

#5- Ability to read people

#6- An attitude toward cohesion

#7- Several skills

#8- Self-awareness

#9- Borderline micromanagement

#10- Adaptability

#11- Being fearless, creative and innovative

#12- Passion

#13- Three skills

7 Self Care Tips From Incredibly Busy People- [Infographic]

IAM1132- Event Planner Makes Special Days a Success

How To Improve Your Inventory Workspace

Product Monitoring

Get Rid of Unused Inventory

Utilize Warehouse Racking Systems

Implement a Labeling System

Ensure Regular Maintenance

Optimized Working Area

Take Advantage of Warehouse Management Apps

Create a Layout

22 Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Tips In Being Disruptive

#1- Be an efficiency absolutist

#2- Conduct seemingly random market experiments

#3- Start with a controversial idea

#4- Think quickly and act slowly

#5- Build up a feedback mechanism

#6- Don't lose sight of what's truly important

#7- Be confident

#8- Consider the business value your bringing

#9- Understand what you're trying to disrupt

#10- Be like Apple and “think different”

#11- Focus on consumers and competitors

#12- Don’t succumb to trends

#13- Use critical thinking

#14- Several tips

#15- Prove you can change the game

Replace “hustle” with “hospitality”

Define communication boundaries

Rethink outdated routines

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