Category: Tools and Information

Jon McNeill’s insights on Tesla’s robotaxi and why EV startups fail | TechCrunch

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Jon McNeill — a former Tesla and Lyft executive and current CEO at DVx Ventures — spread the word last week at the World Business Forum on what he calls the “Tesla innovation method” of radical simplification.

After his presentation, we sat down to chat about Tesla’s automation goals, its new robotaxi, and why building electric vehicles is a tough business.

On the Tesla robotaxi

Tesla rolled out Autopilot, its advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) that can perform limited automated driving tasks, back in 2015. McNeill said automation has been a major initiative for Tesla for almost a decade.

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Entrepreneurs Need to Develop These 5 Qualities to Be Successful | Entrepreneur

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I am often asked, “What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur?”

It’s a difficult question to answer because there are so many personality qualities an entrepreneur must have to be successful. With some of these qualities, you either have them, or you don’t. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t develop them over time.

Here are some of the more essential qualities you need for entrepreneurial success.

1. Be a risk-taker

If you already know me, then my approach to taking risks will not surprise you. After all, I have always subscribed to the mantra: Ready, Fire, Aim. I have no aversion to risk, which has been critical to my path as a successful serial entrepreneur. Small business owners must be willing to take risks if they want to achieve their goals.

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These Are the Top Side Hustles to Work Less, Make More Money | Entrepreneur

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In the best-case scenario, a side hustle could turn into a multimillion-dollar business that generates a passive income stream — but at the very least, starting a side gig could help pay some bills.

A new survey from personal finance software company Quicken shows that almost half (43%) of Americans with a side hustle, or an extra source of income added to a primary income, make more money and clock in fewer hours overall than those without a side hustle.

The three most popular side hustles pursued by those who work less and make more money were personal assistance (20%), cooking and baking (16%), and caregiving (16%). One in five people with side hustles said they were business owners, too, selling products online or offering services like photography.

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Why does dairy make antibiotics less effective? | Live Science

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You may have heard that some foods and drinks, such as grapefruit and alcohol, shouldn’t be consumed with certain medications. But did you know that dairy products can make some drugs less effective?

This effect is particularly problematic for certain classes of antibiotics, which are drugs used to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics taken by mouth — in a pill or liquid form, for example — need to be absorbed into the bloodstream to work effectively. But when taken with dairy products, such as milk, cheese or yogurt, some antibiotics are not absorbed as they should be.

For instance, one study found that the absorption of an antibiotic called demeclocycline (brand name Declomycin) into the bloodstream dropped by a staggering 83% when taken with milk, compared with water and a dairy-free meal. Demeclocycline is used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, like pneumonia. Another study showed that when ciprofloxacin is taken with milk, levels of the drug in the bloodstream are about 30% to 36% lower than when it is taken with water. This antibiotic is used to treat a range of illnesses, from pneumonia to gonorrhea.

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Best and Worst Time of Year to Look for a Job | Business News Daily

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Job hunting sometimes seems like a never-ending process. While you may not have control over the time of year you need to find a job, certain seasons are better than others when it comes to getting hired. Whether you’re fresh out of college and searching for your first gig or trying to transition into a more senior role, here are the best and worst times to look for a job.

Best times to look for a job

Every industry and position is different, so there isn’t a universal hiring season. However, many experts agree that the beginning of the year is a great time to look for a new position for a range of reasons.

“During the transition into the new year and into early February, this is when teams are getting new momentum [and] adding on new members to accomplish their goals when a business is growing,” said Valerie Streif, marketing manager at GetMyBoat and former content manager at mock interview platform Pramp.

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Creating a Go-To-Market Plan for a New Product: A Hands-On Guide | All Business

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Achieving product-market fit (PMF) is the holy grail for any business. As founders, we often start our journey with a brilliant idea and the illusion that we already know our target audience. Once we get our first customer, we are naturally inclined to believe that we have found our PMF. Yet, this might be a dangerous mistake.

In a world where more than half of startups close before five years, poor product-market fit is a top reason why a company goes out of business. And even if you don’t fail right away, you might still be one of the 72% of startups facing product-market-related issues, which includes no market need or mistiming that cripple your growth. The median time from idea to PMF is about two years, however. So it’s never too late to change your go-to-market plan and find your market fit.

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Time-Tracking Software Pros and Cons: Should Your Business Use It? | All Business

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Time-tracking software has, in some ways, revolutionized productivity and workforce management. Thanks to automation and centralization, as well as intuitive, convenient employee interfaces, it’s now possible to get a more accurate, reliable read on how your employees are (or aren’t) spending their time.

But is time tracking all it’s cracked up to be? Sure, there are some obvious and subtle advantages, but there are also some weaknesses to keep in mind before making time tracking mandatory.

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30 Mission Statement Examples and How to Write One for Your Business | Small Biz Trends

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In today’s business world, companies face fierce competition in their respective markets. To stand out among competitors, businesses need to have a clear understanding of their goals and objectives. One way to achieve this is through the development of a mission statement. By exploring mission statement examples from some of the leading brands in the world, you will learn what to do and what not to do to create an impactful mission statement for your own business.

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How to Use Print Marketing to Reach Gen Z | Business

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Just when marketers and small businesses have figured out how to market to millennials, a new demographic is capturing their attention.

Gen Z is a budding consumer powerhouse cohort that, according to NielsenIQ, is expected to reach $12 trillion in buying power by 2030.  Gen Z is known for being digitally attuned and culturally diverse, and you can’t talk to them the same way you’d talk to other generations. We’ll examine Gen Z’s buying preferences and how businesses can use print media to attract these consumers.

What is Generation Z?

Generation Z, typically defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, now includes individuals in their teens to mid-20s. Many of them have already entered the workforce or are pursuing higher education. According to the NielsenIQ data cited above, by 2030, Gen Z will comprise 30 percent of the global workforce.

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Why Should You Hire Someone Without a College Degree? | Business

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When you’re hiring, you want to find a candidate with a solid work ethic, the right skill set, and values that align with your company’s. If you’re struggling to find the perfect candidate, you might consider widening your applicant pool to include individuals without a college degree.

For certain candidates and roles, real-world experience and soft skills can make up for the lack of a college degree. Read on to discover why you should consider employing someone without a college degree and what to look for in these candidates.

Why you should consider hiring people without degrees

You should never feel pushed into hiring someone who doesn’t have the proper qualifications for the role. However, there are many reasons to consider hiring someone even if they don’t have a college degree.

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