Getting Off The Fence: Hobby vs. Business | marketingforhippies.com

December 30, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Is what you do a hobby or is it a business?

This is an important question to answer because most entrepreneurs I know are on the fence about it.

There’s no right or wrong answer to it. But I know a lot of people who say it’s one and do it like the other.

My friend Theo drives for UPS. He loves his job. It’s his meditation. He offers massage for free on the side as his gift to the community. It’s a hobby for him.

But I know a lot of people who are baffled by why their business isn’t growing and, when I look at it, it’s clear. They aren’t treating it like a business. They don’t invest in it. They don’t work on it as well as in it. They don’t make systems. They do everything on their own. They haven’t sorted out their niche. None of which would matter if it were a hobby.

If you treat it like a hobby, it will never grow like a business might (and, to be frank, even if you treat it like a business, there are no guarantees it will grow at all).

How to Make 2017 a Great Year for Your Business | Duct Tape Marketing

December 29, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

I’m afraid this isn’t going to be the typical end of the year wrap-up/prediction post.

Nothing wrong with those, I’ve done them in the past, but today I simply want to share what I hope.

I hope this for my own business, and I hope this for anyone struggling to make meaning, get unstuck, grow, change, reconnect, start, or stop.

So often we take stock at the end of the year and for a brief moment may even experience something like optimism for the upcoming year. But, then the same patterns sneak back in, and by the end of January, nothing seems much different.

For 2017 to be the year that you breakthrough or out the only thing you really need to change is your mind.

How Entrepreneurs Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable | Entrepreneur

December 29, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

You can’t be a successful entrepreneur if you’re afraid of being uncomfortable. Strange as that may sound, it’s a reality you’re going to have to face if you want to own and grow a business. Countless entrepreneurs, from Richard Branson to Mark Zuckerberg, have professed the importance of taking chances and pushing yourself past your “comfort zone,” but what does that actually mean? And how on earth are so many entrepreneurs able to tolerate immense mental discomfort and do things that scare, intimidate or otherwise cause them distress?

How Smart People Deal With People They Don’t Like | Life Hack

December 28, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In a perfect world, each person we interact with would be nice, kind, considerate, mindful, generous, and more. They would get our jokes and we would get theirs. We would all thrive in a convivial atmosphere where no one was ever cross, upset, or maligned.

However, we don’t live in a perfect world. Some people drive us crazy, and we (admittedly) drive a few mad as well. Those we dislike are inconsiderate, rushed, malign our character, question our motives, or just don’t get our jokes at all — but expect us to laugh at all theirs.

You might wonder whether it is possible to be fair to someone who ruffles you all the time, or someone you’d rather avoid eating lunch with. You might wonder if you should learn to like every person you meet.

Source: How Smart People Deal With People They Don’t Like

5 Ways Museums Are Using Technology for New Experiences | ABC News

December 27, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Museums are always looking for ways to make their exhibitions more exciting. Now, new technologies are making that easier.

From 3-D scanning and 3-D printing, to virtual reality and special apps, these technologies are being applied in a multitude of ways. Still other technologies are being tested and developed as museums seek to ever broaden public access.

“Where we used to have one way of visiting and experiencing a museum, people now expect a variety of ways,” said Catherine Devine, chief digital officer at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. “It’s about exploring technologies.”

A look at some of the ways museums are integrating and developing technologies to engage their audiences:

4 Surprising Words That Should Define Your Digital Strategy in 2017 | Adweek

December 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The tree-decorating selfies have inundated Instagram, you’re receiving multiple festive discount emails each day, and you’re already having flashbacks to office holiday parties from years past.

That’s right, it’s the end of the year for marketers, and that means it’s time to look ahead to what trends, obstacles and issues we can expect in the coming year.

Instead of pointing you to some of the more popular acronyms of late—IOT, OTT, VR, AR, AI, etc.—I’ve instead boiled it down to four deceptively simple words that should help you focus your digital strategy in 2017.

Facing the Inevitable: When Business Bankruptcy May Be Your Only Option | AllBusiness.com

December 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Bankruptcy was a big topic in this year’s presidential campaign. With President-elect Trump previously filing for bankruptcy protection, the topic has probably never before received so much attention.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, I have personal experience with bankruptcy. A failed business, regardless of the reasons, can often leave you in a position where you have no other choice. While most of the advice I write about is on starting a business, I thought it would be a great time to talk about what to do when your business is failing. Keep in mind that being broke is not always a reason to close your business. In fact, that is why there are numerous options afforded to you as a debtor.

What to Consider Before Buying a Company Car for Your Startup | The Startup Magazine

December 16, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Maybe you need a transportation van to make home deliveries. Maybe you want a souped-up truck to carry all your tools and equipment from home to work. Whatever your reason for considering buying a company car, you should take a breath and consider whether you’ve thought the decision through.

A company car ― just like a personal car ― is a significant expense, and if it doesn’t provide any additional value to the business, it might be the cause of your business’s downfall. Especially in new and relatively unproven businesses like startups, such an expense could bleed your business checking account dry before you know it.

Here are a few considerations you should make before you make any trips to the auto dealership for your startup’s first car.

Choosing a Digital Copier for Your Business | Business News Daily

December 16, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If you’re looking for a new copier for your business, you’ll want to make sure you consider whether a digital copier is right for you.

Though analog copiers are still available on the used market, the bulk of copier sales now belong to digital models. Often multifunctional in scope, digital copiers are all-in-one office suites, capable of scanning, copying, printing (via network connectivity), faxing, downloading and emailing.

19 Wellness Program Ideas for Your Company | Getentrepreneurial.com

December 15, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As an employer, you need your company and its workers to be productive. Keeping staff motivated, engaged, and happy on the job is hard enough—but when you factor in the many health conditions affecting the United States, balancing the challenge of keeping everyone healthy and happy so they can work (and you can save money) can feel overwhelming. Obesity and related chronic diseases are very costly to employers averaging $93 billion per year in health insurance claims. Many of these conditions are strongly linked to factors that include smoking, inadequate exercise and poor dietary choices—all of which can be modified with the help of company wellness programs.

Tips for successful wellness programs

Workplace wellness programs can help offset some of these challenges. After all, what’s more fun than competing against your friends and co-workers for bragging rights and fitting in to a smaller pair of jeans? For the best possible buy-in, allow your employees to have a say or suggest programs they would like to participate in. Send around a survey or list of some ideas and ask them for their own. Regular and short term programs. Activities that have a quick duration (usually no longer than a month) will help employees stay motivated and focused on the goal ahead. At the end of the challenge period, offer a prize for their efforts. Just make sure it’s something healthy and beneficial, not something that would set them back.