The war against plastic is distracting us from pollution that cannot be seen | Live Science

October 28, 2020October 27, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The war against plastic may be overshadowing greater threats to the environment. In a collaboration with experts from the environmental sciences, engineering, industry, policy and charities, we have written a paper in the journal WIREs Water which highlights concerns that relatively easy action against plastic pollution can conveniently mask environmental apathy, and that people are being misled by alarmist headlines, emotive photographs, and “greenwashing.”

Plastic is an incredibly useful and versatile material on which much of modern society relies, yet it has become one of the most topical environmental issues of the day. Over the past few years, plastic pollution has encouraged action from individuals, organizations and governments at levels similar to some of the greatest threats to the environment, such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

How a Microloan Can Help Your New Small Business | businessnewsdaily.com

October 27, 2020October 25, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If your new small business needs a short-term, low-interest infusion of funds, a microloan could be exactly what you’re looking for.

Microloans can help small businesses launch and grow through small-dollar lending.

Though they’re generally considered a great way to build a credit file for your business, very few lenders in the U.S. offer microloans.

Unlike some business loans, microloans can be used for a wide range of items or needs.

What Is Analysis Paralysis (And How to Overcome It) | Lifehack

October 27, 2020October 25, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever taken so long trying to solve a problem that you just ended up going around in circles? How about trying to make a major decision and just freezing up when the time to decide came?

You might have found yourself gathering too much information, hoping it will help you make the best decision—even if it takes you too long to do so. This probably led to many missed opportunities, especially in situations where you needed to act on time.

Nobody wants to make the wrong decision. However, delayed decision making can have a hugely negative impact on all aspects of your life—from your personal relationships to your career. Delaying important decisions can be the worst decision of all.

Ocean Cleanup launches its first ocean plastic product: sunglasses | Fast Company

October 26, 2020October 25, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Late in 2019, the Ocean Cleanup crew returned from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with its first load of plastic waste harvested from the ocean during a pilot test of its trash-fighting technology, proving that it could skim plastic off the surface of the water. But then came the next hurdle in the company’s yearslong quest to prove its effectiveness: how to recycle that plastic so it didn’t become waste again.

“It was actually quite a challenge, because this material has sometimes been out there for decades,” says Boyan Slat, CEO and founder of the Ocean Cleanup. “A lot of this stuff is quite brittle, quite degraded. It’s also very mixed. You see half of it being fishing nets, the other half being more rigid objects, like bottles and crates. So turning it into a usable material was quite a journey. When we announced that we were going to do this late last year, we didn’t know whether we could do it.”

They Were Rejected On Shark Tank And Today Are Making Millions | Forbes

October 26, 2020October 25, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The investors from TV’s Shark Tank aren’t going to want to see this. Here are ten ventures turned down on the show, that have become great successes.

Cellhelmet

Cellhelmet provides protective cases for your most precious possession – your cell phone. Since being turned down on Shark Tank, Cellhelmet has gone on to create a whole suite of mobile device accessories including charging solutions, power banks and screen protectors. Their products can now be found in 3,000 stores, and they have offices in both the US and China.

11 Steps to Validating Your Startup Idea | AllBusiness.com

October 23, 2020October 21, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Are you an entrepreneur who has tried out multiple business ideas, but hasn’t yet figured out the perfect idea for your new business? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, many startup founders experience a few failed products before finding success.

The best way to avoid falling into this trap is to launch an MVP (minimum viable product) that validates your startup idea before you put all of your time and energy into it. There are countless ways to launch a business MVP, so let’s go over the most important steps and what has worked for me in my business.

1. Let the idea find you, instead of forcing an idea

Many startup founders (and I’ve also made this mistake) approach finding a right startup idea the wrong way: they start from a blank slate. Then they try to come up with ideas that people may possibly find cool. They start with ideas rather than problems.

This is actually a backwards approach. Instead of trying to find a startup idea, you should instead look for problems that you might be having or problems that others are experiencing.

5 Ways to Make Your Content Marketing Strategy Work for Your Small Business | Small Business Trends

October 23, 2020October 21, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Content marketing is widely successful for generating new leads and attracting new customers to your business. A full 70% of companies say they invest in content marketing strategy, and 60% say that content marketing is very or extremely important to their overall business strategy.

How to Make Content Marketing Work for Your Small Business

But successful content marketing requires more than simply starting a blog and posting on social media. You need an effective strategy that connects up all your content marketing efforts, and that’s far more challenging. Many marketers still aren’t handling it efficiently, with one study reporting that only 23% of marketers agreed that they are succeeding at managing content across the organization.

If you’re part of the remaining 77%, don’t panic. We have some essential tips for boosting your content marketing strategy.

Why Mentoring is More Critical Than Ever |Management Consulting Connection

October 22, 2020October 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Mentoring programs can significantly impact organizations’ business goals, professional development, and leadership development. Research finds that the top benefits to organizations with formal mentoring programs include higher employee engagement and retention, support for the growth of high-potential employees, the creation of intra-organizational relationships and collaboration, and knowledge management and transfer. What’s more, 75% of executives say mentoring has been critical to their career development.

A survey by ATD Research found that the top three benefits mentees received from participating in mentoring programs are professional development, a better understanding of organizational culture, and the development of new perspectives. The top three benefits mentors received from participating in mentoring programs are the development of new perspectives, the development of leadership skills, and insight into the organization. Another study found that people who served as mentors experienced lower levels of anxiety and described their job as more meaningful than those who did not mentor.

How to Use Google Analytics | business.com

October 22, 2020October 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Google Analytics can be incredibly useful in boosting your business and informing your marketing strategy. Here’s how to use it effectively.

Google Analytics is an incredibly useful tool for businesses of all sizes, but because of its many complicated terms and metrics, it can be difficult to understand. Use this guide to learn what Google Analytics is, to see how to set up a Google Analytics account and to familiarize yourself with some of the most important metrics and terms.

Makers Of Impossible Burger Are Working On Plant-Based Milk | Digital Trends

October 21, 2020October 20, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The meat-free Impossible Burger has gone from “impossible” to “frankly, pretty commonplace” within an impressively short period of time. Perhaps looking for its next big sci-fi challenge, Impossible Foods announced Tuesday that it is moving beyond plant-based meat and into another animal product in the form of plant-based milk.

“The plant-based alternatives that are out there are inadequate,” Impossible CEO Pat Brown said. “The reality is that if they weren’t, there wouldn’t be a dairy market.”

While Impossible Milk is still in the research and development phase and not yet available commercially, the company showed off samples of the new milk-inspired foodstuff (err, drinkstuff) during a demonstration from its food lab; showcasing a plant-based milk alternative that appears far more creamy and milklike than current milk substitutes such as soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and assorted others. It also will not curdle when it comes into contact with hot beverages, as shown by the researcher carrying out the demo by mixing it with hot coffee.