5 things to consider before you quit your job and go to grad school | Mashable

June 22, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Do you have some vague plans to go back to school at some point, and get more education? Can’t go wrong with another degree, right?

Well, no. In fact, that’s actually a pretty dangerous assumption.

Getting an expensive degree without knowing exactly what you’ll be getting out of it is a quick way to rack up debt that won’t necessarily help you achieve your goals. So, before you (possibly) get yourself in a lot of trouble, here are five questions to consider before applying to school, again.

1. What are the requirements, and do they seem interesting to me?

First things first, are you even interested in additional studies? You never want to get a graduate degree solely because you don’t like what you’re doing now or because you don’t know what you want to do next.

Facebook’s photo app will not be available in Europe | BBC News

June 19, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Facebook’s photo-sharing app Moments will not be made available in Europe due to concerns about its use of facial recognition, it has been revealed.

The app, which allows users to share mobile-phone photos with friends without posting them publicly, was launched in the US this week.

The Irish data regulator said that users must be given a choice about whether they want it, with an opt-in.

There is currently no timetable for such a feature, said Facebook.

Richard Allen, Facebook’s head of policy in Europe said: “We don’t have an opt-in mechanism so it is turned off until we develop one.”

Moments arranges the photos on someone’s mobile phone into groups, based on when they were taken. The facial recognition technology can identify Facebook friends to whom users can then forward the photos.

10 Skills That Are Hard to Learn But Pay Off Forever | Entrepreneur

June 19, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

The best things in life may be free, but that doesn’t mean they won’t take time, sweat, and perseverance to acquire.

That’s especially the case when it comes to learning important life skills.

In an effort to ascertain which talents are worth the investment, one Quora reader posed the question: What are the hardest and most useful skills to learn?

We’ve highlighted our favorite takeaways.

A California Ruling Just Challenged Uber’s Entire Business Model | Bloomberg Business

June 18, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

California’s labor commissioner said an Uber Technologies Inc. driver who connects with customers through the company’s app must be considered an employee, a decision that strikes at the heart of its business model.

San Francisco-based Uber, like other “sharing economy” startups, has built a business around a flexible car fleet piloted by people it contends are independent contractors. If Uber’s drivers were treated as employees, the company would be required to guarantee them a minimum wage, compensate them for mileage and pay into social security.

“We see this as a problem that’s growing larger with each year, with employees lacking security and even basic rights when they are treated as independent contractors,” said Steve Smith, spokesman for the California Labor Federation, which has backed tougher regulations on ridesharing companies.

Accountant vs. Bookkeeper: Small Business Financial Differences | Business News Daily

June 18, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Given the many problems small business owners encounter every day, recording and understanding the sales and expenses and other basic business data should be easy enough. But understanding the accounting needs of a business is not always so easy. Consider the difference between bookkeeping and accounting. Is there even a difference?

There is, and the difference is simple: bookkeepers record a company’s day-to-day transactions; accountants tell them how to do it, and then the accountants periodically make sense of all the information by turning it into useful reports .

Sarah Kauss launched S’well to rid the world of plastic water bottles | Money Cnn

June 17, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Plastic water bottles are a divisive issue for many consumers, but not for Sarah Kauss.

The defining moment happened at Kauss’ five-year business school reunion in 2009.

“A professor did a presentation about the global water crisis and the impact on the planet from plastic waste,” said Kauss. “I knew then that my bottle idea had to happen.”

Before then, Kauss would carry other metal water bottles with her but wasn’t happy with their look.

In 2010, Kauss launched her startup S’well, a line of insulated reusable stainless steel bottles that are designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.

Since then, the New York-based firm has sold 4 million bottles. The business is profitable and saw revenue surge 400% between 2013 and 2014 — hitting $10 million last year. “We expect revenue to grow exponentially again this year,” she said.

How To Create Successful Employees |Small Biz Trends

June 17, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Imagine you hire some employees, show them to their workstations, and leave them to it. What do you think their chances of success would be? I’m thinking pretty low. And yet, this kind of thing happens every day.

Employers hire people mostly for skill set. With this practice can come the belief that the person is ready to roll on day one.

So, once they’ve filled out all of their paperwork and been shown where the bathrooms are they are let loose to do their job. The result is usually less than stellar performance and everyone ends up unhappy.

Hiring is the first step to future success. The second, and equally important, step is onboarding. Onboarding should include a couple of activities that set the new employee up for success.

Weekly Economic Update | LAEDC

June 17, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

v.19 n. 25 – Released June 16, 2015

This Week’s Headlines:

California Financial Report for May
Strong Rebound in May Retail Sales
Events of Interest
- Stayed Tuned for Upcoming Events

What CVS buying Target pharmacy means for prices | Business Insider

June 16, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

CVS is buying Target’s pharmacy business for $1.9 billion.

The deal means the discount retailer’s 1,660 pharmacy locations will become CVS-branded units.

CVS’ acquisition could set off a series of similar deals as cost pressures hurt profits at grocery-store pharmacies, Reuters reports.

“Target pharmacies helped drive overall sales at the chain but lost money, as the government healthcare program known as Obamacare expanded ranks of insured and increased pressure on cost,” Reuters writes.

While outsourcing operations to CVS could help the bottom line at companies, it could be bad news for consumers.