Existing home sales dropped in September to 13-year low as surging prices and mortgage rates stymie demand | CNN Business

October 23, 2023October 22, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Home sales dropped in September to the lowest level since the foreclosure crisis as surging interest rates and climbing home prices made buying a home unattainable for a growing share of would-be buyers.

Historically low inventory of homes for sale continued to push prices up and rates that crossed over 7% in August have pulled sales down to their lowest level in 13 years, according to a monthly report from the National Association of Realtors.

The median price for existing homes — which include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops — was $394,300 last month. That was up 2.8% from a year ago and marked the third consecutive month of year-over-year price increases, setting a record high price for homes in September. Prices rose in all four regions of the country, the Northeast, Midwest, South and the West, the NAR report found.

Is overhype dooming the cultivated meat industry? | Fast Company

October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As the founder of the Reducetarian Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on reducing societal consumption of meat, I’m of the belief that we’re never going to convince everyone to give up animal products altogether, so we need to come up with ways to fill that demand without destroying the planet. Cell-cultivated meat—meat grown from animal cells rather than slaughtered animals—could be one of those history-changing innovations, allowing us to feed the world without the dirty business of torturing animals.

So you can imagine my disappointment when Wired reported last month that all was not as it seemed at Upside Foods, a leading cultivated meat company in the U.S. Since the company launched in 2015, journalists have gushed about their promise to make cell-cultivated meat a reality. The prospect seemed practically inevitable, and even the world’s biggest meat-producing companies were vying for a stake.

Delegation — Leveraging Your Time And Resources | LifeHack

October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Delegation is not about doing less work; it’s about working smarter, making the most of the time you have and knowing when to pass some of your work on to others.

Think of your time as a limited jar of marbles. Every task you take on is like adding another marble to that jar. The problem? When you try to cram too many tasks—too many marbles—into your life, your jar overflows. What’s the solution to this all-too-common scenario? Delegation. It’s the act of handing over some of your marbles to someone else, effectively making room in your own jar and avoiding the dreaded overflow.

5 Time Management Hacks for Small Business Owners | AllBusiness.com

October 16, 2023October 15, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As a small business owner, you’re likely wearing many hats—juggling everything from product sourcing to inventory management, front-end work, human resources, marketing, and more. With a mile-long toto-do list, it’s all too easy to give into “the overwhelm,” especially if your personal life is a little out of sorts as well.

A few years ago, I ditched a corporate job I loved to pursue my true calling: starting a small business. Yes, this move allowed me to spend more time with my family while growing my business, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel overwhelmed in the beginning.

Fast forward a few years . . . I’ve had the opportunity to take on more responsibilities for my clients and expand into additional ventures, including hosting my own podcast. Along the way, I’ve learned how to not give into the overwhelm, but to embrace it.

How to Use ChatGPT to Write Website Content for Business | AllBusiness.com

October 16, 2023October 15, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

AI tools for content creation are super popular today, and no wonder:

They help small business owners and marketers save time and money.
Tools like ChatGPT generate content assets in seconds.
Their texts look like they were written by humans, and plagiarism checkers see them as original and ready for publishing.

A tiny problem: those texts aren’t original. ChatGPT isn’t as intelligent as many believe (yet!):

It generates words without understanding the context.
Its content is generic, with no insights for the audience.
Yes, it learns fast, but still can present some false information from the internet as if it’s true.
It can’t cover controversial issues like politics or religion, and it offers biased answers to corresponding questions.

Adobe Predicts Surge in Online Holiday Sales | Small Biz Trends

October 13, 2023October 12, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Adobe has released its forecast for the upcoming U.S. holiday season, highlighting some noteworthy trends and data of significant importance for small business owners.

Based on a vast trove of data analyzed by Adobe Analytics, the company anticipates a 4.8% year-over-year growth in U.S. online holiday sales, amounting to $221.8 billion. This is up from the $211.7 billion observed in 2022, which had a growth rate of 3.5% from the preceding year. Such growth underscores small businesses’ importance in prioritizing their online presence and digital marketing strategies to tap into this expanding market.

US Small Businesses Lean on Credit Cards Amid Inflation and Funding Challenges | Small Biz Trends

October 13, 2023October 12, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Intuit’s inaugural 2023 QuickBooks Small Business Index Annual Report brings to light small businesses’ profound challenges in the US, Canada, and the UK. The report analyzes the effects of macroeconomic pressures’ effects on small business operations, job creation, and their quest for funding, such as inflation and soaring interest rates. This report is carried out in collaboration with renowned global economist Professor Ufuk Akcigit.

Small businesses, the backbone of economies worldwide, are feeling the weight of financial challenges now more than ever. With this report, Intuit goes into the current state of these businesses across the three major regions.

The Newest Plague: Turnover Contagion | Business.com

October 12, 2023October 10, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Although the ideal employee turnover rate is 10 percent or less, rates have skyrocketed in recent years, jumping to roughly 47 percent in 2021 and remaining elevated in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. There’s a good chance your organization experienced some of this workforce loss. However, while some level of turnover is okay, you might want to pay close attention if your head count starts rapidly shrinking against your will.

There are many reasons why employees voluntarily quit their jobs, and one possible explanation boils down to, well, the fact that their co-workers did it first. Multiple people leaving your company can spark a serious ailment for your business: turnover contagion.

How To Start a Dry Carpet Cleaning Service | The Startup Magazine

October 12, 2023October 10, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Your fascination with cleanliness and hygiene may have led you to contemplate starting a carpet cleaning business. Not just any carpet cleaning business, but specifically an endeavor in dry carpet cleaning services.

This blog aims to guide you through the process, from the initial steps of conducting market research to operational management, hiring staff, and more.

Dry carpet cleaning is a niche that is rapidly growing as homeowners and commercial establishments opt for these services due to their swift execution and deep-cleaning performance.

Understanding the Dry Carpet Cleaning Industry

In order to effectively navigate the dry carpet cleaning sector, it is vital to have a comprehensive understanding of the industry. This will allow you to identify opportunities, challenges, customer preferences, and emerging trends.

The dry carpet cleaning method involves the use of specialized machines and biodegradable absorbent compounds which do not soak the carpet or require extended drying times.

How to watch the annular solar eclipse in person or online | Digital Trends

October 11, 2023October 10, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Skywatchers across the U.S. will have the chance this week to see a special event: an annular solar eclipse, also known as a “ring of fire” eclipse. The main date to look out for is Thursday, October 14, when people in various locations across the globe will be able to see the event at different times.

If you’d like to watch the eclipse in person, we’ve got advice on how to do that safely. But if you’re after an easier option or you’re located outside of the viewing regions, there’s also a live stream available that will let you watch the event online. More details are below.