3 Millennial Founders on What Really Makes Their Generation Tick | Inc.com

October 2, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

For serial entrepreneur Stacey Ferreira, 23, the Millennial generation is best defined by this Napoleon Hill quote: “If you’re not learning while you’re earning, you’re cheating yourself out of the better portion of your compensation.”

More than anything else, she says, Millennials are seekers of purpose.

Ferreira, who heads up the digital advertising agency AdMoar, took the stage Thursday morning at Inc.’s annual Women’s Summit in New York City along with Rodney Williams (31), co-founder and CEO of Lisnr, SOLS co-founder Kegan Schouwenburg (29), and Inc. senior editor Christine Lagorio to discuss what really defines this generation at large.

Accounting for as many as 80 million people between the ages of 18 and 34–and an estimated $200 billion in U.S. spending power–Millennials are clearly a valuable demographic to businesses and employers.

7 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Job Listings | All Business

October 2, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Looking to hire sometime soon? If you want to make your job listing stand out on job boards and attract the top talent, you’ll want to read these seven tips on making the most of your job posting.

1. Have a Clear Job Title

According to Kevin Walker, Indeed.com’s Director of Employer Insights, a well-crafted job title can increase traffic to your listing by up to 1000%! So what exactly does a clear job title look like and what do you need to do to make sure your listing has one?

Make the Title as Specific as Possible – For example, “Guest Content Editor” is much more descriptive than “Editor 2”

7 Things Your Parents Never Taught You about Being an Adult | Page19

October 1, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Your twenties and early thirties are an exciting time. You’re blazing a trail in your first career, learning what you’re really amazing at and where you might need some work, experiencing loves that have potential to last, and maybe even thinking about buying a house. All of this stuff is big—after all, you’re building a foundation for the rest of your adult life—and its collective approach can make you feel like a tiny island nation preparing for a tsunami.

So how do you prepare yourself for what’s to come, weather-proof your basement floor and build for both sunny and inclement weather?

We’ve whipped up a handy little guide with 7 practical tips from some of the best books for people who are newly navigating the world of adults. Here, learn why you shouldn’t depend on a savings account to rescue your retirement, when’s the right time to invest in property, and the single most important thing amazing employees do when they’re young.

What Turning 35 Taught Me About Money | The Simple Dollar

October 1, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A debt-free life is better than the alternative.

For the first few years of our marriage, my husband and I didn’t pay too much attention to our spending or our outstanding debts. We made decent incomes, after all, and didn’t have any children. What difference did it make if we carried credit card debt, student loans, or car loans?

Here’s what I found out — it makes a huge difference. With two kids in school now and the college years fast approaching, I can’t imagine how unstable I would feel if we carried the kind of debt we did early on.

Now that I know a debt-free life is much better (and a lot less stressful) than the alternative, my plan is to avoid debt like the plague if at all possible. For us, that means driving older cars, saving money for splurges so we can pay in cash, and staying put in our reasonable home. If that keeps us debt-free, that’s fine with me.

Could Microsoft Edge Be Your New Web Browser? | Small Biz Trends

September 29, 2015September 29, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

To date, one of the biggest standouts in Windows 10 is the new Microsoft Edge browser.

For many, it’s just a relief to say goodbye to Internet Explorer once and for all. (You won’t have Internet Explorer to kick around anymore.)

After 20 years, many innovations and a long period of stagnation, it took a lot to overhaul this browser.

Jacob Rossi, a senior engineer on Microsoft’s Web platform team, says:

“We’ve fixed over 3,000 interoperability issues (some dating back to code written in the 90s) on top of the over 40 new Web standards we’re working on. For example, longstanding inner HTML issues are now fixed.”

So, is the new Microsoft Edge browser really all that much different than its predecessor? Let’s take a look at some of the early returns on the new Edge browser.

Of course, one of the best places to look for instant reactions is on Twitter. And there, — surprisingly — you’ll find a lot of praise for one of the more hyped additions to the new Windows 10 operating system.

Slow and Steady? 4 Smart Ways to Maintain Business Growth | Business News Daily

September 28, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

When entrepreneurs launch their businesses, they often think rapid growth and record-breaking sales numbers equate to success. And with so many media outlets covering startups boasting incredible spikes in their revenue and customer bases, it’s easy to understand why. Companies that don’t see fast expansion may feel discouraged, but is this type of immediate success really sustainable? Business owners who focus on growing quickly may want to take a lesson from the classic “tortoise and hare” fable, in which the slow but steady tortoise won against the hare. Though speed might put you ahead of the competition at first, you’ll likely end up burning out before the race is over.

4 Funding Myths to Stop Believing Now | Entrepreneur

September 28, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Fundraising can be a tricky business, with many factors influencing the outcome. Avoid these funding myths and make sure you have the information and strategies you need to keep your company thriving.

Myth: Funding is synonomous with success.

Reality: Not every successful company seeks funds and not every company that does becomes successful in the long term. Don’t look for outside dollars because you think it’s impressive or could get you press attention. Funds from VCs or angel investors often come with management strings and pressure to perform. Ask yourself if you need money at all and if you’ve exhausted bootstrapping, loans from banks, friends or family, or even funding through revenue.

5 Habits That Cause Entrepreneurs To Fail | Business Tips

September 25, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Fortunately, as the former U.S. Small Business Administration’s Entrepreneur of the Year (and recovering jackass), I get asked to help grow businesses in nearly every industry. Unfortunately, and sadly as a business owner who once practiced the dark art of “Jackassery,” I can empathize with nearly every poor decision they are making because I used to make the same poor decisions as well. My friend, when banks refer me to a business to help them grow or to “turn the ship around” I often see businesses that are crashing and burning firsthand.

Because I’ve personally witnessed these implosions and explosions so many times, I’ve identified five reasons that can account for every failure I’ve witnessed. In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that I haven’t had the chance to work with an entrepreneur in the clay pigeon or petting zoo industries, so I cannot speak to these industries from experience. Thus, if you are in those two industries, these five habits that cause entrepreneurs to fail, don’t apply to you. However, for everybody else, as you read these habits and false beliefs, ask yourself which one sounds most like you. What are you going to do to begin improving upon yourself and your mindset today?

This Adjustable Standing Desk Is So Simple, It Doesn’t Need Nuts Or Bolts | Fast Company

September 25, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As many people are starting to realize, sitting is the new smoking—it’ll kill you faster than a bowlful of trans fats. But standing still in front of your computer all day isn’t so great either. What you need is a combo sit-stand desk, preferably one that’s easy to adjust, and that doesn’t use a motor.

That’s the Perch. It’s a super-adjustable desk that sits on top of your regular desk, raising your keyboard, mouse computer and even a secondary screen to the correct level.

The design came about after Nick Salisbury got fidgety at his 9-5 desk job. “[I] found myself slipping away from this active lifestyle I loved and falling helplessly into a life of sitting,” he says. Research showed him that existing desks were either too expensive or not easily adjustable, so he got together with friends and set up Perch.

A Few Pointers to Stand Out at The Next Networking Event | Get Entrepreneurial

September 24, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

If your company is going to be the next big thing then you’re going to need to get out there in the business world and mingle. Networking events are the perfect platforms to showcase your professionalism and let everyone know about your company brand. You get to mix and mingle with like minded individuals and create serious connections.

If you’ve ever been to a networking event before, then you know full well that there are hundreds of companies being represented in one location. That means in order to get your brand out there, you have to stand out from the crowd. To do this, a bit of research and preparation are necessary. It never hurts to be prepared so that you can rise to the occasion when it’s necessary. Here are some tips that will hopefully help you make a lasting impression:

Do a Bit of Research on the Attendees

Are there certain business connections you intend to meet while at your networking event? If so, then you’re going to want to make sure you know your facts about the individual and their business ahead of time. A little bit of research goes a long way in making a good impression.

Let’s say you’re going into the retail industry for women’s fashion and you’re looking to start your own boutique. You might want to do some research on various companies who sell their products through retailers. For instance, if you’re looking for footwear, you might check out shoes from Marc Fisher to see how profitable the business is and how it might complement your brand.