Category: Tools and Information

How Mind Mapping Helps You to Brainstorm More Great Ideas

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There are many ways to plan out projects, ideas, and plans. You could use a simple piece of paper, a digital planning tool, or you could use a mind map.

I first came across mind mapping when I was at school. One of my teachers showed us how to structure an essay, and his method was to create a mind map and develop arguments using the branches of the map, so you never lost sight of the question.

The next time I use mind maps extensively was when I began creating presentations in the early 2000s. As an English communication teacher teaching business executives in Korea to better communicate with their English speaking partners, I was not teaching vocabulary, grammar, and structure—my students already had that. I was teaching more about the culture of communication in the English speaking world.

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5 Reasons Why it is Important for Goals to be Measurable | Life Hack

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The secret to a successful life is effective goal setting, and the secret to effective goal setting is SMART goals. The magic wand that works it wonders in SMART goals is the ‘M.’

Do you why it’s so important for goals to be measurable? This one property plays the role of the backbone in SMART goals. It eases the way for the rest of the process and increases your chances of moving forward successfully.

Today, you’ll find out all about the significance of measurable goals and how they can enhance your ability to achieve goals in life!

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Bond is using lab-grown chicken protein to make dog treats | Fast Company

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While some “cultivated meat” startups work on the technology to grow steak and burgers to serve in restaurants in place of farm-raised beef, a startup called Bond is using biotech to satisfy a different palette: Its animal-free chicken protein is going in dog treats. And there’s a possibility that cell-based pet food might make it to market faster than the versions designed for humans.

Bond, like other companies working on cultivated meat, wants to tackle the environmental and animal welfare problems posed by meat production without relying solely on plants as alternative ingredients. Plant-based proteins, says Bond CEO Rich Kelleman, can cause some nutritional challenges for dogs and cats.

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Is Now the Time to Revisit Your Company’s Mission and Unique Selling Proposition? | AllBusiness.com

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Remember startup? Filled with boundless optimism and endless energy, startup entrepreneurs lay out a vision for their companies and what they hope to accomplish. And then, too often, they file it away, never to look at it again.

With all the tumult going on, now is a good time to reexamine your mission statement and your unique selling proposition (USP) to see if you’re delivering on your promises. If not, can you get back on track?

If you’ve outgrown your original mission statement and USP, create new ones that reflect your new goals. Once you’re done, review these documents annually to make sure they continue to reflect your operating philosophy and that your actions still support your mission.

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The undisputed importance of appearance and how to get it right | Management Consulting Connection

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When you walk into an interview, even before you speak, shake hands or talk through your resume, something else is doing a lot of talking in your behalf: your appearance. Even though your clothes do not speak, they communicate a lot about you.

Whether you like it or not, physical appearance has an effect on how you are perceived by others. Consequently, it can play an enormous role in whether you receive a job offer, invitations to networking events, and access to other personal and professional opportunities.

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What is a Franchise Fee and How Much Will I Owe? | Small Business Trends

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A franchise fee is what a prospective franchisee owes to the franchisor for the rights to use the franchise brand and franchise system. Typically the franchise fee refers to a one-time payment paid in the beginning of the relationship. But there are also ongoing franchise fees.

When you buy into a franchise opportunity, you gain valuable rights by contract. But you also have legal responsibilities. You must run the business according to the operations manual and the franchise agreement. You must also pay all required fees to the franchisor.  Therefore, it’s very important to understand all fees.

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Business Grants vs. Business Loans | business.com

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Learn whether a business grant or business loan is better for your business.

Running a business is expensive – plain and simple. At some point, there is a good chance you will need to seek additional funding from an outside source. One way to do that is through a business grant or loan. Although the two may seem similar, there are a few key differences that will make one type the better option for your business.

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What are PEOs and ASOs? | business.com

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If you’re considering outsourcing your HR responsibilities, there are several options to consider, such as PEOs and ASOs.

As a small business owner, your expertise is likely in the industry your company is in and not necessarily in some of the tasks that go into running any business, like running payroll, managing tax compliance, and researching benefit options. That’s why, depending on the size of your business, it may be in your best interest to outsource these responsibilities. Among the options you may want to consider are using a professional employer organization (PEO) or administrative services organization (ASO) to manage all, or some, of your human resources responsibilities.

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Meet Real-World Iron Man Who Defies Gravity in DIY Jetpack | Digital Trends

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Richard Browning’s teenage sons don’t think that what their dad does is especially cool. That’s okay. Most teenagers feel the same way about their parents. But most teenagers don’t have a dad whose homemade, Guinness Record-breaking jetpack suit makes him perhaps the closest thing the world has to a real-life Iron Man.

“I used to drag [my sons] out at weekends to mess around with the latest prototype,” Browning told Digital Trends. “Often, [these demos] weren’t particularly spectacular. Sometimes they wouldn’t even get off the ground.”

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