A List Of The Worst Business Advice You Can Follow — Ever | Small Biz Trends

March 22, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

There’s plenty of advice out there for how to start and run a business. But not all of it is good. In fact, there are some common sayings that are actually some of the worst business advice out there. The following includes some of the worst business advice you can follow.

The Worst Business Advice

Do What You Love

Although it may seem like a nice notion, this popular saying is widely considered one of the worst pieces of business advice out there. Just because you love doing something doesn’t mean that others will find it helpful or necessary. And if no one buys what you’re selling, then doing what you love won’t really get you anywhere.

Domino’s pizza delivery robot is hot and autonomous | Mashable

March 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Domino’s, thy name is innovation.

Just months after announcing a pizza delivery truck with built-in heaters, the pizza purveyor is upping the ante with the world’s first pizza delivery robot.

The company’s Australian arm announced plans to deploy a Domino Robotic Unit (DRU). Essentially an autonomous vehicle, DRU can, according to Domino’s, follow a map, navigate sidewalks, avoid obstacles and keep your pizza hot and fresh while delivering it to your front door.

It will even come bearing cold drinks.

4 Sane Responses When March Madness Grips Your Business | Entrepreneur

March 21, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The 2016 Men’s NCAA March Madness is upon us. When the Madness starts, people are tempted to call in sick or leave the office for extra-long breaks. Your sales staff on the road may hang out for excessively long times in sports restaurants. These sorts of activities will likely cost your organization some of the more than $1.9 billion in productivity lost by American businesses, as estimated last year by Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, Inc.

An MSN Survey reportedly found that 56 percent of all workers planned to spend at least one hour on “Madness” happenings, from television to sports bars, and 86 percent of them will be devoting time to updating their brackets. After all, it takes time to wait with baited breath and fill in the names of their picks at each level when they advance (or think up excuses why their favorites got blown out).

It is all in good fun, but it’s at your expense.

FBI warns on risks of car hacking | BBC News

March 18, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The FBI and the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have added their voices to growing concerns about the risk of cars being hacked.

In an advisory note it warns the public to be aware of “cybersecurity threats” related to connected vehicles.

Last year Fiat Chrysler recalled 1.4 million US vehicles after security researchers remotely controlled a Jeep.

People who suspect their car has been hacked were told to get in contact with the FBI.

The public service announcement laid out the issues and dangers of car hacking.

5 Signs Your Business Is Having a Midlife Crisis | All Business

March 18, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Midlife crises are fairly easy to recognize in others, but they’re often not so easy to recognize in yourself—and sometimes even more difficult to recognize when it comes to your company.

Business owners have always had to grapple with marketplace changes, but now as a seasoned business owner, you are facing a new wave of trends such as a mobile workforce, social engagement with customers, unexpected competition from startups with slick marketing, disruptive new models of business, and generational shifts in leaders, employees, and customers. In the midst of these struggles, you may find yourself trapped between what you used to be and where you want to go next.

Soon Your Employer May Be Paying Back Your Student Debt | Bloomberg Business

March 18, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Imagine a world in which the standard benefit package at work includes health insurance, 401(k) contributions, and a few thousand dollars to pay off your student debt.

More companies than ever are offering that last perk, but it’s still a fringe benefit. Two bills making their way through Congress could change that, by giving companies a tax incentive to help employees repay their student loans.

At the moment, when employees get money to pay off their student debt, it counts as taxable income, like a salary bump, just for debt payments. Unlike money that goes toward a 401(k), both employees and employers have to pay taxes on the benefit. For many businesses, it costs more than it’s worth. “I think the tax treatment now is a detriment to more companies adopting this,” said Rob Lavet, general counsel for SoFi, a nonbank lender, which works with around 400 employers that give employees loan refinancing reductions.

SeaWorld to End Breeding Program for Killer Whales | NBC News

March 17, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

SeaWorld announced Thursday it will end its killer whale breeding programs and take a “new direction” amid changing social attitudes.

The company said the 24 orcas it currently has in three parks would be SeaWorld’s last generation, a long awaited move following intense criticism from animal-rights campaigners over keeping the whales in captivity.

“SeaWorld has been listening and we’re changing,” the company said in a statement. “Society is changing and we’re changing with it. SeaWorld is finding new ways to continue to deliver on our purpose to inspire all our guests to take action to protect wild animals and wild places.”

Apple looks to Google’s Cloud Platform as it diversifies its infrastructure | TechCrunch

March 17, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Rumors are flying today that Apple is moving part of its cloud business from AWS to Google’s Cloud Platform. We did some asking around and yes, it does appear that Apple has made some moves to diversify its iCloud storage, tapping Google for some of that business.

This is another huge win for Google and a — at the very least perceived — loss of ground for AWS, which has watched as Dropbox moved large parts of its US storage business in-house and Spotify moved at least part of its business to Google, too.

Get Your Freak On | CASSANDRA

March 17, 2016March 17, 2016 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In recent years, there’s been demand for over-the-top treats that not only satisfy people’s sweet tooth, but also provide them with eye-catching content to post in their social feeds. From cronuts and other hybrid desserts to ice cream that changes colors or is served in rolled form, eateries have gone to extreme lengths to stand out. The latest craze to catch on globally is “freakshakes”—milkshakes with desserts spilling out of them.

The freakshake phenomenon first took off last summer when Pâtissez, a bakery and café in Canberra, Australia, introduced milkshake-filled mason jars, topped high with whipped cream, pretzels, marshmallows, and even whole brownies and pecan pie. The decadent desserts, which the restaurant dubbed “Freakshows,” quickly went viral, drawing hours-long lines. Pâtissez has maintained its reputation as a must-visit dessert destination by introducing new flavors and expanding its selection of elaborate cakes that overflow with toppings, too. Inevitably, its viral popularity has influenced bakeries around the world, who have since added freakshakes to their menus.