It’s no secret that the workforce is changing. And with that change comes new challenges and frustrations. However, with change, also comes new opportunities to learn, grow and innovate.
But, in many cases, it’s easier said than done especially when managing a multigenerational workforce.
After all, it’s not simply about adopting new forms of modern technology; it’s about understanding and accommodating your team’s different motivations, expectations, and working styles.
In the bustling command center of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, Flight Director Gene Kranz was a portrait of calm in a storm of complex tasks and critical decisions. As the person ultimately responsible for the success of this historic mission, he could have chosen to keep a tight grip on every detail. Instead, he led with trust, respect, and strategic delegation.
When a critical alarm signal, known as “1202”, flashed on the astronauts’ screens just moments before landing on the moon, the atmosphere in Mission Control became tense. Time was of the essence, and Kranz had a decision to make. Instead of jumping in to solve the problem himself, he turned to Jack Garman, a 24-year-old guidance officer on his team. Garman quickly identified the issue as a radar switch conflict and confidently recommended proceeding with the descent. Kranz trusted Garman’s judgment and gave the order to continue.
The airline industry is notoriously hard to decarbonize: large jets traveling long distances can’t feasibly use batteries, and sustainable aviation fuel is still only produced in tiny volumes.
As airlines explore a range of options, United Airlines Ventures’ Sustainable Flight Fund just invested in one possible solution—a system that uses crushed rocks to capture CO2 for use in fuel or to store underground.
The fund announced today that it invested an unspecified amount in Heirloom, a company that uses a powder made from limestone to pull CO2 from the air, relying on the material’s natural ability to absorb the greenhouse gas. At a facility in California’s Central Valley, robots stack trays of the limestone powder into tall stacks exposed to outdoor air. Then the powder is heated in furnaces to release the CO2 so it can be used or stored.
The intense red color of classic lipstick traditionally comes from an unlikely source: crushed bugs that live on cactus plants in South America. It takes tens of thousands of the ground-up insects to make just a pound of the vivid red dye.
The red coloring, called carmine, also shows up in food—from red velvet cupcakes to sausages, gummy candies, and some versions of strawberry yogurt. In the cosmetics industry, major brands started moving away from carmine in the 2010s because of ethical concerns. A growing number of consumers wanted vegan makeup. (Crushing bugs also creates an allergen because of other bug parts that end up in the dye.) But because synthetic dyes don’t perform as well, carmine is still found in some high-end products, from shades of MAC lipstick and NARS blush to Chanel nail polish.
Amazon made news when the e-commerce giant announced plans to raise the price of its annual Prime membership to $119, up from $99 at the time (it has since been raised to $139). A $20 annual increase works out to less than $2 a month, which certainly isn’t much, especially when you consider that it entitles members to free two-day shipping and streaming access to lots of TV shows, movies, music, and even sports. Still, the internet was filled with outrage and complaints from angry Prime members (and non-members).
That kind of backlash is enough to scare a small business away from raising prices—even though that’s something that you may be considering. The rising costs of labor, energy, and borrowing have forced many small business owners to cut corners in order to make ends meet.
But you don’t have to go on that way. Here are five tactics for raising your prices:
The hospitality industry is undergoing a significant transformation, making it increasingly dynamic. As guest preferences evolve and the demand for personalized experiences grows, hoteliers need to become more tech-savvy by integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
Tools that integrate these technologies, from smart thermostats to robots that guide guests throughout the day, allow hotel staff to become more efficient by streamlining their routine tasks.
In this article, we’ll dive into the future of AI in the hospitality industry, the role of AI in smart hotels, and the challenges faced during implementation.
Market research provides businesses with valuable insights into their competitors, customers and industry trends. Do it well and you can spot new opportunities before your competitors. You’ll also be better able to anticipate future trends and improve profitability. However, knowing how to get started can be challenging. We’ll outline essential steps for creating your market research plan and share five simple strategies to ensure timely, actionable and effective market research.
How to conduct effective market research
If your business is new to market research, Tyler York, CEO of AdLeg, recommends taking the following steps to get started:
As a business owner, you must track employee performance to ensure your team progresses on projects and spends company time efficiently. Managers and leaders who notice the quality of a specific employee’s work is dropping can use employee performance tracking software to identify gaps in understanding and resolve the disconnect.
Establishing an employee performance process and tracking the results can get to the core of any workflow issues while holding their teams accountable for their assignments each day. Discover 14 tools below that measure employee performance and the benefits of using such software.
On February 15, BBC News published an article that explored the possible link between the use of noise-canceling headphones and auditory processing disorder (APD) in young people. This will likely come as a shock to many parents who have come to think of these devices as helpful for their kids’ concentration. Parents of neurodivergent children, in particular, see noise-canceling headphones as a vital tool that helps their kids navigate environments that would otherwise be overwhelming.
The existence of a possible APD link also flies in the face of the advice parents are usually given around the use of headphones. Normally, the chief concern with headphones and earbuds is that kids will listen at unsafe volume levels, which could lead to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
There’s a staggering $115 trillion of global opportunity in 2025.
And international expansion is seen as key for long-term growth, according to WellsFargo, “with emerging markets providing the greatest opportunities.”
Branching out into another community or state can be daunting, let alone going outside of the U.S.
Where does an entrepreneur even start?
For entrepreneurs and startups looking to expand beyond U.S. borders, start with the same basics:
Build strong, loyal customer bases
Small businesses often have the agility to adapt quickly to cultural and linguistic nuances. Unlike larger corporations, they can personalize their approach to align with a specific market’s traditions and preferences.
For example, a small boutique exporting goods to Italy might tailor its messaging to align with local customs, such as celebrating Ferragosto, a major holiday in August. This flexibility allows small businesses to build strong, loyal customer bases.
Dispatches From The Front 