Author: knjohn

Best iPhone Apps to Manage Business Contacts | Business News Daily

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When you attend a conference or client meeting, you likely collect several business cards from all the new people you meet. But what happens next? In the old days, such cards were meticulously filed or placed in a handy Rolodex. Today, even more efficiently, automated contact managers readily available through the App Store can import and organize all your contacts directly on your iPhone. Below is our list of the best iPhone apps for storing and managing your business contacts.

What are contact management apps?

A contact management app is a program on your mobile device that stores, filters, categorizes and updates contact information for the people in your life. Although iPhones come with a built-in contact app, a third-party vendor’s downloadable contact management app can provide you with many more features than you’d get with the default application.

Read More

Lack of Energy: Your Guide to Boosting Energy | LifeHack

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Time management and energy management are closely intertwined. When you master your energy, you’re essentially taking the reins of time, guiding your day, your tasks, and ultimately, your life.

If you’ve ever felt that time is slipping through your fingers, it’s not just about the clock ticking away. It’s about your energy. Most of us have been taught that time management is the magic wand to productivity. But there’s another layer we often miss: energy management.

When you think about energy, what comes to mind? Is it just the physical stamina required to walk, drive, or move? Or is it that mental zest, the one you need to focus, think, and feel?

The truth is, our day-to-day efforts tap into two distinct reservoirs of energy: physical and mental.

The physical one is quite straightforward. It’s the energy our muscles and limbs need to do stuff—walk, jump, even simply sit.

Read More

What Is Motivation And How To Get Motivated | LifeHack

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Motivation is your internal engine that propels you towards your objectives. Without it, you may find yourself stalled, unable to advance. Unfortunately, time doesn’t pause for your resurgence in motivation – it ticks on. With our limited time, the harsh reality is, your goal might remain perpetually out of reach.

Why do we lose motivation every now and then? Why is it then that some people lose their inner spark over time, which is the pure source of inspiration?

Life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes the “downs” or failures disappoint people so much that they lose the drive to achieve their goals. It also has a spiral effect where they start missing opportunities and lose the direction of life.

Read More

Egg prices remain high during Easter holiday due to avian bird flu and inflation | Fast Company

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Egg prices are at near-historic highs in many parts of the world as the spring holidays approach, reflecting a market scrambled by disease, high demand, and growing costs for farmers.

It’s the second year in a row consumers have faced sticker shock ahead of Easter and Passover, both occasions in which eggs play prominent roles.

While global prices are lower than they were at this time last year, they remain elevated, said Nan-Dirk Mulder, a senior global specialist with Dutch financial firm RaboBank’s RaboResearch Food and Agribusiness division. Mulder doesn’t expect them to return to 2021 levels.

Read More

MIT researchers propose a new way to measure climate change: outdoor days | Fast Company

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Minnesota officially just had its warmest winter on record. Some residents probably enjoyed the break from shoveling snow, but many Midwesterners found it ominous to comfortably jog outdoors in late January. It could turn out to be a fluke—just a particularly strong El Niño—or it could be a harbinger of things to come, particularly after the hottest global summer on record. Either way, a professor at MIT wants more people to start thinking about climate change in terms of how it will radically alter seasonality as we know it.

Read More

Why Taylor Swift Is the Business Role Model You’re Looking For | All Business

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Do you have a role model? Many business owners can point to someone they view as a role model, someone with attributes they admire, or who just inspires them.

As expected, many small business owners claim legendary entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Sara Blakely as role models. No surprises there. But entrepreneurs often prefer the road less traveled, so if you’re looking for a new or additional role model—let me suggest—Taylor Swift.

Yes, you read that right. Allow me to make the case that singer/songwriter Taylor Swift is not only an excellent entrepreneurial role model but also an accomplished entrepreneur.

Read More

How to Become a B Corp in 5 Steps | All Business

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Would you like to be the best business in the world or be the best business for the world?

Look closely at the two options. The key differentiators are in italics. A company that wishes to be the best business in the world ultimately does not share the same outlook as the one that wants to be the best for the world. These latter companies use business as a force for good. They are known as B Corporations: purpose-driven corporations that create benefit for all stakeholders.

What’s a B Corporation?

Incorporating as a B Corporation means following a slightly different process than that of forming a limited liability company (LLC) or a general corporation.

Read More

Plumbing Shortage Crisis Means Great Opportunity | Small Biz Trends

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Young people are shunning plumbing as a career option. The number of plumbers retiring is outweighing the number of new plumbers. Research commissioned by bathroom fittings manufacturers, Lixil Americas, shows that the shortage of plumbers in the United States cost the economy around $33 billion in 2022. The report estimates that by 2027, the nation will be short of around 550,000 plumbers.

Enrollment at trade schools has fallen. The apprenticeship rate for young people wanting to be trained in skilled trade work like plumbing dropped by 49% in 2022 compared to 2020, according to data from the recruitment platform Handshake.

Plumbing shortages across the United States is having negative consequences on households and the economy, including driving up costs for plumbing services. Not being able to call on a professional plumber can also have negative implications on businesses, such as their ability to expand into new buildings. The shortfall of plumbers can also delay flood recovery efforts and building upgrades so that water systems are more efficient.

Read More

Several Local Communities Launch New Small Business Grants This Spring | Small Biz Trends

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

From reducing income disparities to improving busy commercial districts, small business grants can benefit communities in numerous ways. That’s why several cities, counties, and local organizations have recently launched their own funding programs. Read about several current opportunities and initiatives related to small business grants below.

East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program

Empire State Development recently launched the third funding round of its East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program. The program awards grants of between $5,000 and $50,000 to businesses in designated parts of East Buffalo, largely helping minority-owned establishments. Initially launched in response to the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue in 2022, the program includes a total of $3 million in funds and has already helped nearly 70 businesses, providing more than $800,000 over the previous two funding rounds. The program is currently accepting applications and will continue to do so through May 10.

Read More

Why Happy Employees Are Good for Business | business.com

~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A happy and satisfied workforce is something all companies should strive for. Although it may be tempting to focus solely on business operations, such as increasing sales and attracting more customers, it’s essential to prioritize employee happiness. In this article, we explain why keeping your workforce happy is essential and how to do it effectively.

Why it’s important to keep employees happy

Besides being the right thing to do, keeping employees happy has several benefits for you and your team. Here are some of the primary advantages associated with a motivated workforce.

Read More