A small but important reminder of why net neutrality is a big deal | Mashable

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Much of the Internet rejoiced when net neutrality rules were approved by the Federal Communications Commission last week.

The landmark vote will mean that the Internet is under the most stringent regulation yet including enhanced transparency, application to landline and wireless, and a the bedrock Open Internet principles.

But for all the hubbub, it would be hard to blame people who didn’t see why it was a big deal. The Internet worked the same on the days before and after the vote.

Critics of the move have said that the FCC is trying to fix a system that isn’t broken, and that the possible harms that the net neutrality rules seek to prevent are non-existent.

This is mostly true, but every so often there’s an example of why net neutrality advocates fought for the new rules with such fervor.

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3 Ways To Market Yourself Without Sounding Like A Late-Night Infomercial | Forbes

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downloadMy husband hates marketing.  He thinks that it’s generally hype and BS, cynically calculated to manipulate you into acting, vs. an honest communication of value.

He’s not completely wrong.  Most of us are pretty skeptical about the marketing messages we’re subjected to in the media, because so much marketing focuses on convincing us that product X is the answer to all our prayers (think Ginzu knives or Sham-wow), or on trying to terrify us into buying product Y in order to avoid some horrible consequence (home security systems and life insurance tend to rely on this approach).

But there’s another side to all of this. Many of my clients are well-intentioned, high-integrity branding and marketing folks who are honestly trying to figure out how to let people know, in a compelling way, that they have something great to offer. And my colleagues and I spend a good deal of time thinking and talking about how to communicate Proteus’ value in a way that’s both meaningful and true.

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Business and Pleasure: The Winning Combination | Page19

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The old adage, “separate your friends from your work,” is more outdated than VHS. Here’s how friendship in the workplace can boost productivity, and how you can help foster friendship in your team.

Who accompanies you to the cinema? Who’s on speed-dial in case of a major life crisis? Who does the back-busting work on moving day? Friends, that’s who, and they’re as key a component to a good life as professional satisfaction.

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Innovation In Seating: Upgrading the Way We Sit | CoolBusinessIdeas.com

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At first glance it seems entirely ridiculous that seating could be upgraded or innovated upon. After all the concept of a chair or bench is relatively simple, and the height is pretty standard. So how is it possible that there can be innovation in this industry?

Upon deeper investigation and diving deeper into the different types of seating available and its specific use, it is easier to check out the innovation taking place in the seating sector. Everything from airline seats, to recliner chairs, to church pews are being upgraded, with new features added that make them more comfortable, and suited to the intended use of the product.

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Small Business Financing: Myths and Realities | All Business

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Do you know everything you need to know about small business financing? Whether you’re a small business veteran or just starting out, obtaining capital is one aspect of entrepreneurship there’s a lot of confusion about.

In fact, it seems getting financing isn’t the only challenge entrepreneurs face. Simply learning about and understanding their financing options is a hurdle in itself for most small business owners. In OnDeck’s latest quarterly Main Street Pulse Report,

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8 Deadly Ways to Kill Employee Motivation | Inc.com

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If you want to make sure you’re providing your employees with an environment in which they can thrive, check your workplace for these motivation killers.

1. Toxic people.

If you’ve ever spent time with truly toxic people, you know how destructive and exhausting they can be. Toxic people spread negativity and suffocate the positive. Let them find a new home–or, if that’s not possible, make sure policies and supervision are in place to minimize their damage.

2. No professional development.

Everyone needs to know that they are learning and growing. Without that, the workplace grows static and dull. Professional development for each of your employees allows them grow in their careers and also to know that both the organization and you have an investment in their success.

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What is the Marshmallow Challenge and Can Your Team Beat It? | Small Biz Trends

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How can twenty sticks of spaghetti, a yard of tape, a yard of string, and one marshmallow help build a stronger team?

The Marshmallow Challenge has become a popular exercise in which small groups are asked to build the “tallest free-standing structure” out of the materials provided. The teams have eighteen minutes to complete this task including the entire marshmallow on top. It’s a fun and instructive exercise that allows teams to experience simple lessons in collaboration, innovation and creativity.

The Marshmallow Challenge has been conducted with business school graduates, CEOs, architects, engineers, and even kindergarteners. There have been surprising findings for which groups perform most successfully.

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The Laughing Planet Café Paid Maternity Leave | Bloomberg Business

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Laughing Planet Café has 14 restaurants spread across Oregon and Nevada. Its 280 employees spend their workdays making burritos named after Che Guevara and mixing up salads called Highway to Kale. And now, in a move nearly unheard of in the restaurant world, they will all have three months of fully paid parental leave after they have a new baby.

Laughing Planet’s owner and chief executive Franz Speilvogel made the decision last week, after a pregnant store manager expressed concerns that she wouldn’t be able to take any maternity leave. “She’s entering her final trimester, and she talked about the circumstances of being an employee in my company and what she’s faced with,” said Speilvogel, whose Portland (Ore.) company didn’t previously have any parental leave policy in place. “I told her, let me think about it and get back to you.” He was still thinking about it a few days later when President Obama announced that federal workers would now get six weeks of paid sick leave and that he planned to push Congress to extend those rights to everyone else.

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

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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:

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