Water Filled Windows Cools & Heats House | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

August 6, 2020August 5, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When it comes to keeping buildings energy efficient, windows certainly pose a challenge. It was with this quandary in mind that a British scientist has created a new type of window – one that’s filled with water.

There are two main problems with conventional windows. For one thing, most of them allow heat to escape during cold weather, causing the building’s furnace to run more frequently. For another, they allow sunlight to stream in during hot weather, creating heat that causes the air conditioning to kick in.

Dr. Matyas Gutai, a lecturer in architecture at Loughborough University, believes that his “water-filled glass” (WFG) windows may address these limitations.

Electrical Scaffolding Heal Broken Bones | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

August 6, 2020August 5, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We’ve already heard about implantable materials with a scaffolding-like microstructure, that help heal broken bones by giving bone cells a place to migrate into. A new one could work even better, though, by also providing electrical stimulation.

Scientists have previously had success using implants to mimic the body’s own electrical field, stimulating bone cells into reproducing. Unfortunately, though, these devices have tended to be bulky, requiring an integrated (potentially toxic) battery or a hard-wired external power source. Additionally, once the broken bone has healed, the implants have to be surgically removed.

Fireworks leave toxic metals lingering in the air, study finds | New Atlas

August 5, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Fireworks are a surefire way to create a spectacle of color and light, but research has revealed these dazzling displays could pose a health risk. A study that is said to be the first to look at the impacts of firework exposure on human cells and animals, has found a range of harmful toxins can linger in the air once the lights go out.

The research was carried out by scientists NYU Langone Health, who looked at air quality samples collected from dozens of sites across the US, spanning a timeframe of 14 years. Through this analysis, the team found particularly high concentrations of toxic metals around Independence Day and New Year’s Eve.

Phone Etiquette 101: Please Hold These 10 Tips in Mind | Business News Daily

July 31, 2020July 30, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Customer service over the phone matters a great deal to customer satisfaction and your brand’s professionalism.

Customer service requires etiquette that is often unspoken but always expected by your customers.

Outsourcing management of your phone lines to a call center could free up internal resources and boost the quality of your customer service.

This article is for small business owners who want to improve their customer service over the phone and are considering outsourcing to a call center or answering service.

Active Listening vs Passive Listening: Is One Better Than the Other?

July 31, 2020July 30, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Seems like we are inundated with information every day. I don’t know about you but sometimes, I find it difficult to unplug and not feel like I need to be in front of a screen or talking to someone.

It sure feels like we are digesting information and communicating with others in one form or another all the time. With so much information coming at us from all angles, it’s easy to become distracted and not give important items the attention they deserve. It’s very easy to default to passive listening pretty much all the time.

3 ways to become a more coachable employee | Fast Company

July 30, 2020July 27, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Effective leaders are more like coaches than managers. Instead of leading an employee toward a preset answer that meets their own objectives, coaches support the person on a path toward career development and, ultimately, greater job satisfaction.

Coaches help their teams grow on a professional level, but being a coachable employee is a vital part of the equation, says behavioral scientist and master certified coach Marcia Reynolds, author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem: A Guide to Using Reflective Inquiry.

Deloitte BrandVoice: Tracking The Recovery: What Manufacturers Can Learn From One Another | Forbes

July 29, 2020July 27, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The recovery from COVID-19 in manufacturing will not be one uniform push. Rather, just as the virus worked its way across the globe, the recovery will be uneven as disparate regions and sectors move toward the next normal.

This won’t make things easy for manufacturers. But the one advantage of a staggered recovery is that it allows you to draw on the insights of regions and sectors that are ahead of you in the cycle. And based on several podcasts I recently recorded with colleagues who advise on manufacturing across the globe, everyone seems to be facing the same key challenges.

10 Simple Client Appreciation Tips to Keep Your Business Growing | AllBusiness.com

July 28, 2020July 26, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Client appreciation improves your client relationships and facilitates retention—and it doesn’t cost much to execute.

When customers feel appreciated, they’re much more likely to stick around, and they’re more likely to recommend you to a friend or colleague. If you apply a customer appreciation strategy consistently, you can greatly improve both client retention and acquisition, and sustain business growth indefinitely.

Of course, client appreciation seems like a very simple concept, but to execute it effectively you’ll need to consider your strategy carefully.

A Guide to Non-Disclosure Agreements | AllBusiness.com

July 28, 2020July 26, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In business, there are numerous instances in which you may want to share confidential information with another party. But the key to doing so safely is making sure that the other party is bound to respect the confidential information you provide them and not use it to your detriment.

One common way to protect the secrecy of confidential information given to another party is through the use of a Non-Disclosure Agreement, which is sometimes also referred to as a “Confidentiality Agreement” or “NDA.”

In this article, I will explain when it makes sense to have a Non-Disclosure Agreement as well as the key terms that agreement can include.

Business Loan Terminology You Need to Know | Small Business Trends

July 27, 2020July 26, 2020 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Business loan terminology can be confusing. Most small business owners would rather grow their companies than talk about loan interest and finance charges. That said, if you approach a lender without knowing loan terminology you could be — well — borrowing trouble.

Fortunately, we’ve created this glossary of loan definitions that a small business borrower must know in order to make informed choices. Knowing these terms will help you understand small business funding options and the obligations that come with them.