Why You Should Be Fearlessly Authentic | Entrepreneur

November 11, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Typically, entertainers travel by limo to the red carpet at awards shows. Granger Smith is not normal. He insisted on traveling to the recent Country Music Awards red carpet in a Chevy Silverado. It’s authentically who he is: Smith has always owned a Silverado and it’s what his “customers” expect from him.

It reminded me of a similar incident 20 years earlier at the ACM awards. Alan Jackson walked the red carpet in jeans and a T-shirt. The show producers told Jackson to “play along” with a pre-recorded track. Jackson disagreed, so he had his drummer play along without drumsticks as a weird way of clueing in his audience. He walked away with the male vocalist of the year award and I would argue his authenticity is precisely why fans love him.

3 Positive Strategies to Transform Business Fear | Getentrepreneurial

November 10, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When my younger brother and I went trick-or-treating as kids at Halloween, he was scared of kids dressed as ghosts. When he was very young, he had eye surgery a couple of times. All of the OR people wore white. He associated their white dress and the white sheets of “the ghosts” with pain.

Like him, we can associate the ghosts of business pain past with present opportunities. We often fear stepping up into them because of our past failures.

Here are 3 Positive Strategies to Transform Business Fear so you Work Positive this week:

Teamwork: How to Build a Successful ‘Spin-Out’ Startup | Business News Daily

November 9, 2015November 9, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If you plan to leave your current employer to start a rival company, you better bring a strong team with you, new research suggests.

The success of a “spin-out” company — a business created by employees who leave one company to form another in the same industry — depends on the founder’s ability to attract a large and experienced team of colleagues, according to a study scheduled for publication in the upcoming edition of the Academy of Management Journal.

Business Friend or Foe? Both, Actually | Business News Daily

November 6, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Are you my friend, my rival, or both? Maurice Schweitzer and Adam Galinsky, a pair of social psychologists who study behavioral decision-making, posit that in every relationship we are at once cooperating and competing with one another. Schweitzer and Galinsky penned a book on the subject, entitled “Friend or Foe: When to Cooperate, When to Compete, and How to Succeed at Both,” which explores real-world case studies to illustrate the dynamics between rivalry and coordination. Their conclusions about power relations and social comparisons offer valuable insights for entrepreneurs and business professionals. So, Business News Daily caught up with Schweitzer, a professor at the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, to find out what the implications of his research are for the business world.

Does Microwaving Vegetables Destroy Their Nutrients? | Live Science

November 4, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Nuke away! Microwaving vegetables isn’t any worse for your veggies than other types of cooking. And, in some cases, it may be better.

Some natural-food enthusiasts have argued that microwaves “kill” food, breaking down its natural antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that theoretically protect against cell-damaging free radicals in the body, and they abound in fresh fruits, vegetables , grains and nuts, according to the American Dietetic Association.

Business Insurance Basics: 14 Key Terms You Need to Know | All Business

November 4, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Many industries have their own lexicon. Doctors, architects, dentists, and writers—to name a few—all have certain distinctive words that are used almost exclusively within the field to convey specialized meanings.

The insurance also has its own vocabulary. However, unlike other fields that have a tendency to remain insular, most people, especially business owners, will at some point come to have firsthand experience with these terms.

You might be familiar with some of these insurance terms, especially if you’ve ever purchased auto insurance or homeowner’s/renter’s insurance. Keep in mind that personal insurance has far less variety than business insurance. Due to its very nature, business insurance offers an extensive assortment of options.

9 Common Words and Phrases You Might Be Getting Wrong | Inc.com

November 3, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When it comes to language, all of us have our pet peeves. (It’s supposedly, not supposably!) But we’re also imperfect and prone to mistakes.

Of course, no one wants to use language improperly. That’s why I’ve collected a list of nine words and phrases that are commonly misused. In the past, I’ve gotten a few of these wrong myself, so I hope you find it helpful. (Note: All definitions are courtesy of Oxford Dicitionaries.)

Retailers join REI in closing for business on Black Friday | King 5

November 2, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

SEATTLE — More retailers are joining R.E.I., deciding to close their doors on Black Friday.

The outdoor retailer made headlines earlier this week when they announced they would close their stores the day after Thanksgiving, and encouraged people to go outside instead, coining the hashtag #OptOutside.

Sewing machine operator Le Ping is helping her employer, Outdoor Research, fill a big order for the U.S. Marines.

“I sew here a long time,” she said. “I like it.”