10 Things You Should Never Write in a ‘Thank You’ Note | Business News Daily

March 4, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Thank-you notes, while not mandatory, are a great idea if you want to get ahead professionally. Whether you’ve just had a job interview or you’re looking to impress your clients, sometimes all it takes is a short, hand-written note to set you apart.

But while thank-you notes are important, writing the wrong thing could cost you that coveted job or the client you really want to work with. Business News Daily asked business and career experts what things should never be included in a professional thank-you note, and their responses may surprise you.

Here are 10 fatal thank-you note mistakes to avoid the next time you break out your stationery:

The Stratos Card Aims To Unify Credit Cards, And Can Be In Your Pocket Next Month | TechCrunch

March 3, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Yep, here’s another card that promises to consolidate all your credit cards into one. But unlike the others, the Stratos Card appears to be worth a longer look.

Stratos, the company behind the card, has a novel approach and has seemingly worked through all the niggles so far associated with universal credit cards. And best yet, the Stratos is on pace to ship the card next month.

Stratos was founded in 2012 and has since grown to 50 people. The founders chose to raise over $7 million from venture capitalists rather than pursuing crowdfunding cash. And for good reason. This let the company quietly build and develop the technology, brand and marketing. As of today the company and product is relatively unknown and thus doesn’t have the immense public pressure that often plagues crowdfunding gadgets — like one of Stratos’ closest competitor, Coin.

How Google’s New Wireless Service Will Change the Internet | WIRED

March 3, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

GOOGLE SAYS ITS new wireless service will operate on a much smaller scale than the Verizons and the AT&Ts of the world, providing a new way for relatively few people to make calls, trade texts, and access the good old internet via their smartphones. But the implications are still enormous.

Google revealed on Monday it will soon start “experimenting” with wireless services and the ways we use them—and that’s no small thing. Such Google experiments have a way of morphing into something far bigger, particularly when they involve tinkering with the infrastructure that drives the internet.

5 Ways to Help Your Business Grow with Video | Getentrepreneurial.com

March 3, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Today, it’s cheap and accessible to film something and throw it on the web, with a chance it will become viral and be viewed by millions. The benefits of a business creating and uploading such a video are obvious; a popular video online can drive thousands of new customers to a business, as well as maintain the interest of current customers.

Of course, a video can only go viral if it’s entertaining in some way, whether it’s side-splittingly funny or extremely informative. Typically, viral videos either teach viewers something interesting in an engaging way or they make them laugh. Since most businesses aren’t in the comedic realm, businesses can most prudently expect growth out of videos that inform in some way.

Here are methods you can use to help your business grow with video.

Immigrant spouses find relief with new H-4 visa rule | Money Cnn

March 2, 2015March 2, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

On Tuesday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that select H-4 visa holders will be eligible for employment authorization.

It was part of President Obama’s executive action on immigration in November, but has been part of a grassroots movement for much longer. It is the first reform to be implemented that’s geared toward high-skilled immigrants.

The H-4 visa is given to spouses of those on an H-1B, as well as a handful of other, less common, visas. At present, H-4 visa holders can’t earn an income or possess a social security number.

White & Gold or Blue & Black? Science of the Mystery Dress | Live Science

March 2, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The Internet went bonkers last night over a simple question posed on the social networking site Tumblr: What color is this dress?

Some people see the dress as white and gold, while others swear it’s blue and black. Some people even flip between the two, or see some combination. Even Taylor Swift and Kanye West weighed in. (For the record, the dress really is blue and black.)

How Small, Local Businesses Can Reach New Investors And Keep Dollars In Communities | Fastcoexist.com

March 2, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Small, local businesses lack access to capital. Banks will place restrictions before giving loans, like asking for collateral, wanting to see years of revenues, or asking for personal covenants. And then venture and angel investors aren’t interested in the low-rate returns hairdressers, restaurants and furniture-makers can offer; they want “high growth.”

That is why small, local businesses generally stay as small, local businesses. But what if small businesses could reach over the top of those market failures to the general public and investors who are willing to suffer the relatively low returns on offer? That might open up options.

5 Mistakes That People With Emotional Intelligence Never Make | All Business

February 27, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

“Emotional intelligence quotient” or EQ has become such a buzzword these days, we often tune out when we hear people talk about it. Many of us perceive emotional intelligence as a clever term to convince us to be more empathetic. Emotional intelligence, however, goes well beyond empathy. When we’re emotionally intelligent, we have mastered our emotions — and that’s no easy task.

You might have witnessed people “losing it” in business. They cry in frustration. They shout and slam doors. They threaten to leave. They plead. In short, they let their negative emotions drive their behavior. Their colorful behavior is then usually followed by employees gossiping at the water cooler with the final result being long-lasting damage to the person’s personal brand. Unfortunately, anyone with a weak personal brand has little chance of professional advancement.

This is why as overused as the term “emotional intelligence” might be, we must pay attention to it. The following are five common mistakes emotionally intelligent people never make. Avoid these mistakes to keep your brand strong and to help you advance on the path to success.

Why Job Titles are Killing Your Business | Blinkist

February 27, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

What’s in a name? Nothing but trouble. We abolished job titles and launched our #1 most-requested feature in record time. Read why job titles are detrimental to success and how getting rid of them can revolutionize your organization.

In most traditional workplaces, people are obsessed with job titles like Sales Manager or HR Assistant, and prefixes like “junior” or “senior” that go with them. Unfortunately, in an organization full of bright people, operating within a strict hierarchy of titles creates a big problem: work becomes less about getting things done and more about egos and politics.

Nederland startup Solar Greens nears launch of My Terrace Farmer compact greenhouses | Boulderopolis

February 26, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

NEDERLAND — Startup Solar Greens Co. in Nederland is working on fulfilling the first 16 orders of its balcony-size greenhouses, with plans for an official launch in the fall once pre-production and external field-testing are complete.

The hope is that the My Terrace Farmer greenhouses will appeal to a variety of gardeners and would-be gardeners who might have limited outdoor space or live in a harsh climate with a short growing season like the mountains.

The company wrapped up a Kickstarter.com crowdfunding campaign earlier this month, raising nearly $21,000. Since then, another $6,000 in orders has come in. Solar Greens owner Greg Ching said he’s hoping to have the Kickstarter and other pre-orders filled by April.