Category: Tools and Information

Finally OK With Cloud Storage? What to Know Before Switching Data Providers | Inc.com

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A decade ago, storing data in the cloud seemed risky. Today, cloud-based, software-as-a-service applications such as G Suite, Office 365, and Salesforce have made outsourcing data storage simple. But not risk-free. One big issue: With each of them, data is stored in a format that won’t work well outside that application. It can make switching from one to another tricky.

Just ask the Intern Group, a startup that places students in international internships. In 2016, the company consolidated its data. Some was in Google Sheets, some was in the customer-relationship management application Highrise, and some was in a second CRM app, Contactually. Intern Group wanted to consolidate within Vtiger, yet another cloud CRM app.

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Questions About Treasury Bills, Camping, Old Stoves, Prepaid Tuition, and More! | The Simple Dollar

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I have about a dozen credit cards that I use at different retailers. My parents always had a card for each retailer so they could get bonuses. My fiancé had a stroke when he heard this and said that I needed to get rid of some of them because I am at strong risk of identity theft and bad credit. Thoughts?

– Mary

Your fiancé is correct in that the more credit cards you have, the more likely it is that you’re going to get hit with identity theft. The chances are still low, but the more entries you have in credit card databases, the more likely it is that you’re going to eventually have your credit card number or your identity stolen.

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This IKEA item may buy mom and dad more sleep | IKEA Hackers

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If you have a toddler at home, you’re no stranger to early wake up calls. In the summer months it may get even earlier as the little one may wake with daylight.

Megan is a mom of 3, with the youngest at 3 years old. Megan came up with a sleep training clock to help her child know when it’s okay to wake the adults.

She bought the cheap IKEA STOMMA clock and drew on a new colourful face. The colourful sections are key to this sleep training clock.

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Diverse Workplaces Generate 19 Percent More Revenue Than Less Diverse Competitors | Entrepreneur

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A multicultural workplace offers a wealth of opportunities, as well as plenty of traps for cultural misunderstandings. Diverse workplaces generate 19 percent more revenue than less diverse work environments. In addition to generating more revenue, multicultural teams are capable of outperforming competitors that lack in diversity by a whopping 35 percent.

Your company is able to attract a more multicultural workforce, too, since 67 percent of job seekers feel diversity is important in the workplace. Follow these tips to create a cohesive and productive multicultural environment at your place of business.

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Is It Better to Have an Emergency Fund or Pay Off Debt? | Getentrepreneurial.com

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Credit card debt increases every day that the debt is outstanding. Interest is calculated on a daily basis; so the longer you take to repay it the more it’s going to cost you. However, if you put all of your liquid cash toward debts, what happens if something comes up for which you need to make a major withdrawal?

Meanwhile, U.S. credit card debt has reached an all time high, as some 40 percent of Americans say they couldn’t cover an unexpected expense of $400.

So, is it better to have an emergency fund or pay off debt?

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Best Spring/Summer Footwear | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

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These days, it’s impossible to keep up with the sneaker hype cycle, never mind every new hugely anticipated drop. It is worth keeping up with broader sneaker trends, though, plus what’s going on with smart shoes. Why? Because change is afoot.

There has never been more technology in our shoes, making footwear more technical and more comfortable at the same time. Smart shoes are getting more casual, while some trainers get dressier. And then there’s the stunning array of designs available today – your footwear lets you communicate your style and your individuality better than almost anything else in your wardrobe.

So what are you wearing? These are the spring-summer footwear trends we’re in step with this year.

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Prebiotic vs Probiotic: What’s the Difference and Why Are They Important? | Life Hack

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Probiotic vs Prebiotic

What Are Probiotics?

To understand the difference, consider the prefix: PRO and PRE. The term “pro-biotics” literally translates as ‘for life’. That’s because probiotics help to promote good health!

The official definition of probiotics from the World Health Organization is:

“live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”.

This simply means that probiotic bacteria live in your gut, helping to break down food that you eat and helping your body to absorb nutrients and enzymes. Unsurprisingly, this supports overall health.

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Can a New Restaurant Ever Be Too Successful? | AllBusiness.com

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Given the dismal failure rates for new restaurants (some reports put it as high as 90%), it is heartening to watch a local restaurateur succeed with a new restaurant. But can a successful new restaurant ever be too successful?

Being “too successful” may sound like a nice problem to have; after all, how can you ever have too much success? But a hot new restaurant can, in fact, overestimate its capabilities and cause its own demise.

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58 Percent of Small Businesses Spend 5 Hours or Less on Marketing | Small Business Trends

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How much time do you spend on marketing for your small business? A new survey carried out by OutboundEngine reveals 58% spend five hours or less on marketing. And stress is a major contributing factor for how much time small business owners spend.

Titled “Stress, Time & Growth: Factors Affecting Small Business Marketing in 2019,” the report looks at the marketing strategies of small businesses. And according to OutboundEngine, the complexities of today’s small business ecosystem is making marketing much more difficult.

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What is up with My Employees? | Management Consulting Connection

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When we left off with Sarah, she was going to do some research to understand what was going on. In this posting, we’ll share Sarah’s findings and next steps outlined with the organization.

Sarah’s Findings

Sarah met with a number of employees from throughout the organization, at all levels, to understand more about what was happening. The employees she met with were more influential among their peers and therefore were likely to have had conversations with their peers about perceptions of the organization. She also met with the COO. Below are the findings from her meetings/research, presented at a high level.

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