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

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.

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Does Microwaving Vegetables Destroy Their Nutrients? | Live Science

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.

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

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.

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

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.)

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Snapchat Responds To Chatter About Privacy Policy Change | TechCrunch

Social media rumors were taken far too seriously this weekend, as word spread around the globe that Snapchat’s recent privacy policy update gave the company ownership over user content, which includes photos, videos, and text messages. The rumors were picked up by publications that included The Telegraph and The Sydney Morning Herald. Snapchat addressed the rumors in fairly plain language this morning with a statement assuring that its users retained control over their content.

In the statement, Snapchat assured users that they were not storing user content indefinitely.

“The Snaps and Chats you send your friends remain as private today as they were before the update,” the statement read. The company further elaborated that while messages were deleted from Snapchat’s servers after viewing, the company had no control over screenshots or pictures taken by their recipients.

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

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.”

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How Well are You Managing Your Cash Flow? | Small Biz Trends

We’ve all heard the saying, “Cash is King.”

While the words may be cliché, they’re also true — particularly for the small business. Without a cushy safety net or direct line to a big bank’s lending department, survival often hinges on your ability to effectively manage the delicate balance of cash in and cash out.

When there’s no cash on hand, everything is tough. Paying salaries, paying bills, buying supplies, not to mention making the investments needed to grow to the next level. If you’re looking for tips on managing your business cash flow, below are seven to think about.

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5 Ways to Instantly Connect With Anyone You Meet | Entrepreneur

How we communicate largely determines what we experience in life. It influences how much money we make, every relationship we have and where we go in our career.

Our income can be limited if we are unable to pitch our product to a client, ask for a desired salary in an interview or request a raise from management. On the other hand, the depth of our relationships will be constrained if we don’t have the confidence to approach new people or have the ability to resolve conflict and express ourselves.

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The Difference Between Being a Franchise Owner and an Entrepreneur | Getentrepreneurial

franchseeeThere is a big difference between being an entrepreneur and owning a franchise. When considering purchasing or starting a small business it is wise to understand the differences so that you can make good choices for your situation. A franchise has much less control over product, strategy and marketing, but has less risk. An entrepreneur controls their fate but does not have the advantage of brand recognition and a ready-made market.

Leadership

An entrepreneur dreams and dream and creates a business from it. This includes feasibility studies, market studies, start-up strategy, funding, strategic planning and business planning. The entrepreneur has tremendous latitude to develop the business according to their own vision and subsequently to respond to the market for the product. The owner develops the leadership for the business and in the end controls the critical decisions.

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10 Twitter Marketing Mistakes You Need to Stop Making | Business News Daily

Social media is a great free tool that businesses can — and should — take advantage of. Twitter, especially, is one of the best platforms for actively engaging with your brand’s audience, but if you make the wrong moves, you could find yourself tweeting into the void, or worse, offending potential customers.

Business News Daily asked social media experts about the 10 worst things brands and businesses can do on Twitter. Tweet your way to the top by avoiding these major mistakes.

1. Don’t oversell your brand.

“One of the biggest mistakes that brands can make on Twitter is being too brand-centric in their messaging, and forgetting what social media is about — community! Though it may seem counterintuitive to increasing brand awareness, the most successful social media marketing programs focus more on sharing third-party articles and building relationships within communities, rather than only sharing your brand’s messaging and driving [traffic] to your website. A good rule of thumb is to stick to 80 percent third-party content/community engagement, and 20 percent brand-related posts.” – Ginny Torok, social media consultant and digital marketing director, IDMD

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