Have you always dreamed of owning your own business some day? Building a business from the ground up isn't for everyone, but don't let that crush your entrepreneurial spirit. There are plenty of existing businesses out there just waiting to be bought.
Though it may surprise you, everything from franchise opportunities to unique companies you've never even thought of before can be found on the Web. Business News Daily found six great websites that are perfect for starting your search for the right business fit.
Ready to take on the world of business ownership? You might just find your dream company on one of these websites.
1. BizBuySell.com
BizBuySell.com boasts that it is "the Internet's largest business for sale marketplace" and offers users options to buy a business, buy a franchise, sell a business, get help with financing and more. Users can search for businesses by category, state and country, and even set a minimum and maximum price. You can also search franchises by type, state, and amount of capital you have available to invest. Or, you can search for a business broker near you.
Interesting businesses that were previously available include: a vintage auto-restoration business in California, an over-water hotel in Panama, and a go-kart and amusement park venue in Minnesota.
2. BizQuest.com
Like BizBuySell.com, with BizQuest.com you can search for businesses, franchises or business brokers by location and business type or industry. And perks for sellers are good, too: BizQuest.com allows you to post ads in just 5 minutes. The ads are then shared on the company's partner websites, like The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. BizQuest.com also gives you the option to browse listings in top cities as well as the most popular franchises and industries.
Some cool business examples: An aerospace machine shop in California, an 18-hole golf course in Alabama and a professional recording studio in New Jersey.
3. BusinessBroker.net
BusinessBroker.net has over 30,000 business-for-sale listings just waiting for you to sift through. As with the other websites, you can search for businesses and franchises, find brokers and see listings by industry and location. BusinessBroker.net also has a finance and loan center that offers professional help to guide you in your business purchasing decisions.
A few of the unique businesses previously available on the site: A historic bed-and-breakfast in Missouri, a motorcycle dealership in Texas and an online custom-party-favors vendor in New York.
4. MergerNetwork.com
MergerNetwork.com has over 15,000 active business-for-sale listings around the world. It allows sellers to post ads for their business for free and connect with over 14,000 entrepreneurs, investment bankers and business brokers.
Some of the coolest businesses found on the site: A waterfront resort and RV park in Washington, a radio station in New Mexico and a magazine publishing company in Boston.
5. BusinessesForSale.com
This website currently has over 62,000 business listings in the United States and around the world, including available franchises. Users can search by business sector and location to find the perfect business for them. BusinessesForSale.com also has features like email alerts and a services directory for those who need accountants, brokers, lawyers and more.
The most interesting businesses previously for sale: A ranch retreat in Texas, a nightclub in Florida and a river rafting and kayaking retail store in Utah.
6. BusinessMart.com
BusinessMart.com, like many of the other websites, has both businesses and franchises available as well as resources and services to help you get funding. It also allows you to search by location and business category, or search franchises by your available capital.
Some of the most unique businesses found on the site: A scuba diving resort in Tennessee, a boat and yacht detailing business in Maryland, and a paint and party studio in Colorado.
While remodeling your business can be a huge expense, the work is likely to result in a big boost to your bottom line, new research finds.
The financial return on a remodeling investment has the potential to be substantial, with retail sales increasing by nearly 50 percent after the work is completed, according to a study from Monash University, in Australia, that was recently published in the American Marketing Association's Journal of Marketing.
The study's authors discovered that sales to new customers increased by 44 percent after remodeling, and those to existing customers went up by 7 to 10 percent.
"New customers' perceptions of the retail environment – including its atmosphere and layout – were much higher than those of existing customers," Tracey Danaher, one of the study's authors and a Monash professor, said in a statement.
Researchers found that that the increased sales to new customers continued for one year.
"Higher sales to new customers were primarily due to the fact that more new customers were drawn to the altered store, they spent more each time they visited, and they subsequently visited more often," Danaher said. [New customers] also perceived significantly greater service quality and higher levels of customer satisfaction.
The study's authors discovered that for all customers, both new and existing, renovations not only enhanced perceptions of the store's layout itself, but also changed psychological responses and purchase behavior.
Based on the study's results, researchers believe store remodeling should be regarded as a marketing investment that's designed to retain and attract new customers, similar to traditional advertising.
"It is vital that retail firms understand how remodeling the store layout influences customer perceptions and purchase behavior," Danaher said. “It might take a couple of years to recoup the outlay, but the encouraging returns shown in the study should prompt managers to view remodeling as a strategic marketing investment rather than a necessity to endure every decade."
The study was co-authored by Peter Danaher, a marketing professor at Monash.
Internet Explorer has had a bad rap since the beginning of the Internet, but it looks like Microsoft may be about to address that. Rumors have been flying that Microsoft is working on something big in the browser front; the company might be replacing or renaming Internet Explorer, or creating an additional browser.
A tweet earlier this month by Thomas Nigro, a Microsoft Student Partner lead, sparked even more discussion of the new browser. The developer said he heard Microsoft will be launching a brand-new default browser "that's not Internet Explorer." According to ZDNet, the public may soon get to see what the company has in store.
Codenamed "Spartan," Microsoft's new browser may be ready just in time for Windows 10. So if you're buying a new Windows 10 computer in 2015, don't be surprised if Internet Explorer is missing or if you see a second browser pre-installed on your device.
Here are the current questions and answers about Spartan and what it means for your business.
With Firefox and Chrome taking the lead in the browser wars, the Spartan rumors raise the question of whether users actually need yet another browser. And is Spartan meant to replace Internet Explorer?
Although there were talks that Spartan will actually be IE 12 — the next version of Internet Explorer — sources say Spartan will be a separate, "lightweight" browser that will be available in addition to IE 11.
It's no surprise, however, that Spartan will reportedly look and feel like Chrome and Firefox and support extensions for additional functionality, like those browsers do. This would be similar to Chrome extensions and Firefox plugins that let you stay productive and customize your Web browsing experience for your business needs.
If your business is looking to purchase new computers in 2015, it may be one of the first to try out the new browser. Spartan will likely ship with the all-new Windows 10, and there's a chance the public will get a preview of the new browser during the Windows 10 unveiling on Jan. 21. Those who want first access to Spartan may also be able to get their hands on the browser as early testers sometime in early 2015.
More social responsibility, an increased blurring of the lines between home and work life and the added use of mobile assessments are among the top workplace trends for 2015, according to a new study from the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology (SIOP).
Each year, the SIOP surveys its members to determine what organizations should expect in the coming year. This year's top 10 workplace trends are:
Mobile assessments: With technology continuing to grow and progress, SIOP members predict mobile assessments will be used increasingly more for selection, performance management and training and development decisions. With this in mind, the SIOP says it will be critical for businesses to get a better grasp on how mobile technology, as well as social media and social collaboration, are changing how employees are selected and recruited and how it can be used to help with performance management, worker engagement and training.
More Big Data: The trend of relying on Big Data won't be fading away anytime soon. SIOP members expect that as the automation of collection and storage of data becomes easier, databases become larger and hardware and software become more advanced, empirically based Big Data predictions will become increasingly essential to workplace decisions.
Less work-life balance: As the result of the proliferation of wearable technology, Google glass, smartphones and social media, employees should expect the boundary between their work and home life to continue to diminish. SIOP members believe this will make it even harder for workers to maintain a healthful work-life balance in 2015.
Technology changes: Each year technology seems to change the way work gets done. 2015 will not be any different. SIOP members predict that technology will continue to radically transform all aspects of the workplace, including an increase in automation of certain tasks and jobs and changes in how employees perform assignments and interact with others.
Doing more with less: The trend of having to do a better job of optimizing resources due to declining budgets will continue in the new year. SIOP members foresee these strategies continuing to be a core of many organizations' business strategies.
Multigenerational workforces: With four generations – Generation X, Generation Y, baby boomers and the silents/veterans – making up the current U.S. workforce, it will be imperative for businesses to make sure all those employees can successfully work together. In 2015, SIOP members believe organizations will have to work hard to meld everyone's differing perspectives, assumptions and skills.
Recruiting new employees and retaining high achievers: As the job market continues to heat up, businesses will have to place an increased emphasis on recruiting and selecting new employees this year, while still retaining top talent.
Diversity initiatives: Simply having a diverse workforce isn't the advantage it used to be for many organizations. SIOP members believe that in 2015, business leaders will have to make the most of their diverse staff by knowing how to properly and effectively deal with such diversity.
More social responsibility: Companies are no longer judged solely on their revenue or stock prices. SIOP members expect that in 2015, an even greater importance will be placed on how organizations can give back to their local and global communities. Corporate social responsibility is quickly becoming a requirement for businesses that want to be seen as responsible organizations.
New laws: With new years, come new laws. In 2015, changes in current laws and the passage of new ones – such as the Affordable Care Act, updated Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs requirements, and state laws on marijuana use – may affect a number of human resources and organizational practices. It is critical for businesses to be aware of these laws and fully understand how they affect their organization.
Advertising on Pinterest has been but a dream for many businesses, but soon, that dream will become a reality.
Earlier in 2014, Pinterest launched promoted pins beta, which was available to certain brand advertisers, including Expedia, Nestle, Ziploc, Gap, Target and Old Navy, according to Tech Times. Come Jan. 1, 2015, promoted pins will be available at a CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions) to all United States-based partners.
Pinterest has seen promising results from promoted pins beta, according to the company's business blog. Here's what Pinterest learned from the beta test:
Promoted pins work well for a whole range of brands, both in and out of Pinterest's core categories. Everything from financial services to food and even auto companies saw good results.
Promoted pins perform as well as (and sometimes better than) organic pins. Engagement with promoted pins is just as high as it is with the average pin, and brand advertisers achieved about a 30 percent increase in earned media from their campaigns.
Promoted pins still perform well even after a campaign ends. In fact, many brands saw an extra 5 percent increase in earned media in the month following the end of a campaign.
And while Pinterest isn't rolling out an auction-based or CPC (cost per click) campaign option for all advertisers yet, these types of campaigns also saw success in the beta test, with brands seeing major gains in traffic and impressions.
"The bottom line: Pinterest is a place where helpful, inspirational creative can lead you to big, measurable results," wrote Joan Bradford, head of partnerships at Pinterest.
The company also announced the launch of a new program called the Pinstitute. This program is designed to help businesses better connect with Pinterest users and see greater returns from their campaigns. The Pinstitute will focus on both creative and measurement, so advertisers can learn what kinds of pins perform well, what Pinterest users care about and more.
Pinterest will be holding quarterly Pinstitute workshops for a select group of brands. The first workshop is scheduled for March, according to the blog.
But not to fear — the social network isn't leaving out small businesses. Bradford noted that Pinterest will be holding a series of webinars, along with other online learning tools, for small businesses.
Every entrepreneur needs a source of inspiration, and what's a better source than the words of already successful business owners and experts?
Whether you're just starting your business or you're looking to grow an established brand, great business books can make all the difference in how you run your company. The right books can teach you how to grow your profits, motivate your employees and achieve work-life balance. They can even shape how you choose to define success.
Business News Daily asked entrepreneurs, authors and professionals what they felt were the best business books of all time. From new releases to old bestsellers, and from technical business guides to motivating success stories, here are 40 books experts say every entrepreneur should read:
"10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management" by Hyrum W. Smith
"In the book, Hyrum presents 10 strategies for clarifying one's values, aligning to those values, and enjoying greater productivity and inner harmony because of that alignment. [This] book helped nudge me further along the path to values alignment through valued behaviors, which is the core of my consulting business today." – Chris Edmonds, founder and CEO, Purposeful Culture Group
On Amazon, $12.24
"100 Ways to Motivate Others" by Steve Chandler and Scott Richardson
"[It's] great because it helps teach you to be a leader and not a boss. It shows how most management out there right now is demotivating and decreasing productivity on their teams, rather than inspiring and motivating. Of course this is directly related to the type of leader the team has — and even in a bad recession, with dismal outside circumstances, one can create a happy, productive and successful team that will thrive." – Jamie Thomas, executive director, Motley Zoo Animal Rescue
On Amazon, $12.32
"Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty" by Harvey Mackay
"Just like in Hollywood, it's not what you know, it's who you know! [This book] drives that point home, not only in business but your personal life. Mastering the art of networking — quality not quantity — as well as creating lasting relationships is the key to a successful life." – Bruce Specter, principal consultant, 3rd Rock Communications
On Amazon, $13.02
"Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel Pink
"'Drive' by Daniel Pink calls into question a lot of common-sense approaches to getting people to work for you. Counterintuitive to what we have come to believe about bonuses and incentive pay, Mr. Pink introduces the human side of being an employee." – Julianne Haydel, owner, Haydel Consulting Services
On Amazon, $10.72
"How to License Your Million Dollar Idea" by Harvey Reese
"Written by a serial inventor, great book for anyone interested in developing new products and licensing them to large companies. Also contains excellent tips on how to be creative and develop new ideas." – Michael Ihns, owner, Improved Racing Products
On Amazon, $17.50
"How to Win Friends & Influence People" by Dale Carnegie
"Business is about sales. Whether you're selling products to decision makers, or ideas to employees. It's all about sales. Dale Carnegie was the greatest salesman of his time. This timeless book dives into what it takes to get other people on your side. A must read for all young executives." – Phil Sexton, partner, The Sibbach Team
On Amazon, $9.60
"Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World" by Margaret Wheatley
"As complexity theory permeated science, and then social science, Margaret Wheatley's book brought it to leadership and helped us understand how these profound ideas can help us all better organize. Her pros are poetic, yet she is grounded in science. I have seen her book on hundreds of shelves in offices, both academic and in industry. Everyone who I have talked to about reading it says, 'That book changed my life.'" – Scott Hammond, professor of management, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
On Amazon, $15.83
"Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School" by Richard Branson
"In this book, Richard Branson goes through the trials and tribulations of an entrepreneur with direct and actionable advice on how to handle things. This book is a must read for anyone in the business world." – Jonathan Tavarez, founder, Vantage Internet Group
On Amazon, $10.99
"Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die" by Chip and Dan Heath
"['Made to Stick' is] a fantastic guide for teaching you how to craft compelling presentations. How to appeal to your audience is not just a useful but a necessary skill for any business to have." –Sheena Iyengar, S.T. Lee professor of business, Columbia Business School
On Amazon, $16.64
"Ogilvy on Advertising" by David Ogilvy
"Despite being published in 1983, the 'Father of Advertising' offers the straightforward, universally applicable credos that helped make him so successful — being bold, focusing on a 'big idea,' and always holding fast to your opinion. Ogilvy believed that 'advertising is salesmanship,' and that your brand's image in the customer's mind is everything." –Zak Dabbas, CEO, Punchkick Interactive
On Amazon, $18.15
"Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind" by Al Ries and Jack Trout
"[It] totally redefined the way people look at positioning themselves in the mind of the consumer ... one of the best marketing books ever written ... filled with great branding stories. They wrote a number of follow-up related books ... all great! They really helped me successfully define my marketing niche." – Craig Wolfe, president, CelebriDucks
On Amazon, $9.83
"Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great Instead of Big" by Bo Burlingham
"This book provides examples of successful companies that were smart enough to know when they reached their optimal size without the increasing complications and taking on too much risk that would occur if they continued to try to grow. Most of these companies are very ethical, environmentally friendly and have excellent employee morale." – Matthew Reibel, marketing and communications manager, Independent Living Systems
On Amazon, $11.92
"The E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It" by Michael Gerber
"The main takeaway is if you can't walk away from your business for a month without it falling apart then you're not running a valuable business. Gerber teaches us that we need to build processes and [replicable] systems in order to create something that sustain[s] independently. For what it's worth, I've got a long way to go!" – Gene Marks, speaker, columnist and president of The Marks Group
On Amazon, $29.99
"The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter" by Michael Watkins
"[It] helps create the road map for any executive entering into a new company or role, [and] provides excellent tips, guidelines and [the] framework for success. Brilliant in its simplicity." – Ruth Frantz, senior partner, Wiser Partners
On Amazon, $17.79
"The Innovator's Dilemma" by Clayton M. Christensen
"'The Innovator's Dilemma' advocates acting against a lot of safe, traditional business advice and encourages companies — especially bigger, more stable companies — to keep taking necessary risks that might be scary but will ultimately end up saving them by keeping them relevant." – Sanjay Singhal, CEO, Audiobooks.com
On Amazon, $9.67
"The One Minute Manager" by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
"It is probably the most maligned business book in the history of business books, but that's because critics don't understand the difference between simple and simplistic. The basics of good management are simple — but that doesn't mean they're easy. The basics are: (1) set goals with your people, (2) provide ongoing feedback and coaching, and (3) provide rewards for a job well done. [If] you can master the three basic principles outlined in 'The One Minute Manager,' you'll be successful. It's no accident that this book has sold tens of millions of copies around the world and is still selling well three decades after its initial publication." – BJ Gallagher, best-selling author and speaker
"The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be" by Jack Canfield
"It covers such a wide range of topics but still manages to go as in depth as you need, and sums up just about all of the personal development subjects that have been written about and that anyone would require to actually be successful." – Susan Baroncini-Moe, speaker, author and executive coach
On Amazon, $13.12
"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
"The book really lays the foundation for a proper mindset of owning and operating a business, how to manage people and how to really begin thinking about how daily activity produces long-term wealth. This book completely changed my approach to my daily work, and my goals are 10 times bigger than they ever were before. And the best part? I'm beginning to achieve them one by one much faster!" – Jason Fisher, co-founder, Waterway Financial Group
On Amazon, $5.99
"Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us" by Seth Godin
"It's a great (short) resource on how to build and lead a group of people who are connected to each other by an idea or interest. I've used it to build a tight-knit tribe of people interested in improving the business of dirt track racing from the inside - a small niche in a small niche. I highly recommend it for anyone who's part of a team, group or community." – Kristin Swartzlander, owner, DirtyMouth Communications
On Amazon, $11.85
"Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done" by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan
"It's so good because it is so practical. Filled with examples of issues a manager runs into and how to deal with them effectively. At the end of the day you can have a great strategy, but if you don't execute it well, you won't get great results. 'Execution' teaches you how to run a business. I love the book because I can pick it up again and again and get inspired about getting into the office the next morning." – Henry Stimpson, Stimpson Communications
On Amazon, $18.66
"From Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … And Others Don't" by Jim Collins
"This book is a comparison study of companies that transition from good to great financial marks over a period of time compared with others who do not. The examples provide the reader with ideas of how a company may face financial and other pitfalls and change for the better through the use of real-life companies. While these actions cannot always be replicated, they do give ideas to leaders on how to handle challenges and what to remain acutely aware of during positive or turbulent times." –Marie Hansen, dean of the College of Business, Husson University
On Amazon, $20.44
"Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success" by Adam Grant
"'Give and Take' is an amazing business book that shows how giving can get a promotion, make you more money, advance your career or help make your business much more successful. There are 100s of research studies and stories on how to using giving to vault your business and career." – Jason Treu, life mastery coach, Be Extraordinary
On Amazon, $9.30
"How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination" by Sally Hogshead
"It teaches that instead of trying to be the best at everything or be a jack of all trades, you need to focus and excel at your dominant personality Advantages and avoid your dormant Advantages (the ones you are not so good at)." – Irina Jordan, founder, ARTISURN
On Amazon, $18.96
"Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing Out of Sync?" by Seth Godin
"The book gives actionable tips on how to use new social media marketing tools to become a better organization that is faster, more flexible and even more fun, [as well as] how to establish a marketing plan that is in sync with long-term strategic initiatives." –David Reischer, COO and founder, LegalAdvice.com
On Amazon, $12.49
"Million Dollar Consulting" by Alan Weiss
"This book really changed the way that I operated my consulting business and viewed my value to my clients. Just as important as the topic of value-based fees that is inside is the theory of marketing gravity, which I have used in my own business, but have also used to accelerate the marketing pull of organizations that I am involved with." – David Wakeman, principal, Wakeman Consulting Group
On Amazon, $15.67
"Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time" by Keith Ferrazzi
"Businesses thrive when you form and nurture valuable business connections through a variety of channels. ‘Never Eat Alone' is a great resource on how to accomplish this and is an easy and fun reminder to open up as a business leader and go beyond networking to a new level of communication and exchange." – Chad Buckmaster, CEO, Processing Point
On Amazon, $18.69
"Redemption: The Cooperative Revolution" by Berny Dohrmann
"Perhaps the most important book of our lifetime. Cooperation is what made this country great and it's the only thing that can help the global economy. Get rid of corporate greed and competition. Cooperate to succeed." – Dave Phillipson, representative, CEO Space
On Amazon (for Kindle), $2.99
"Remote: Office Not Required" by Jason Fried
"[It's] extremely relevant to anyone in the technology sector, and it gives a fresh perspective on how we can operate businesses in the 21st century. Not only can allowing your employees to work remotely save your company money, but it can increase your employees' job satisfaction, among other benefits." – Simon Slade, CEO and co-founder, Affilorama
On Amazon (for Kindle), $10.99
"Success or Your Money Back" by Shed Simove
"With modern-day schooling instilling a regiment of simply pass or fail, it is scary for a young adult to feel confident trying to achieve anything as an entrepreneur. Schools are meant for 'learn this skill, obtain this degree, and get this specific job.' They do not teach entrepreneurship and in this book, Shed explains that anyone can create results out of any simple idea (and has proven his method viable by result of over a million units of product sold.)" – Candice Yoneyama, founder, Crossroads Careers
On Amazon, $14.36
"Teaching an Anthill to Fetch" by Stephen James Joyce
"The only recent book I've really liked, it's a fantastic exploration of what it takes to build and use what Joyce calls collaborative intelligence." – Casey Fleming, author and mortgage advisor, C2 Financial
On Amazon, $18.38
"The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization" by John C. Maxwell
"We often feel unless we're in positions of power in our organization that we have no influence. Maxwell challenges us to take up the mantle of leadership wherever we are." – Michael Chadwick, licensed real estate salesperson, Bond NY
On Amazon, $13.37
"The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich" by Timothy Ferriss
"This book opened my eyes to entrepreneurial possibilities I never knew existed. It expanded my mind to creatively think outside the box in how I can have an impact in the world. Ferriss brings you through his DEAL formula in relation to entrepreneurship and lifestyle design. DEAL stands for Definition, Elimination, Automation, and Liberation. To understand how important this DEAL formula is, you'll have to pick the book up and start reading." – David J. Bradley, founder, Primal Digital Marketing
On Amazon, $8.75
"The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary" by Mark Sanborn
"It tells not just how the execs can get ahead but how any employee can be extraordinary. This is information that can be communicated companywide, through the great story about Sanborn's mailman and Sanborn's thinking about what he did. [It's] a short and highly readable book [that] even somebody with only a high school education working on a loading dock can read and get something out of." –Amy Alkon, advice columnist
On Amazon, $11.42
"The Laws of Success: The Master Wealth-Builder's Complete and Original Lesson Plan for Achieving Your Dreams" by Napoleon Hill
"[It's] excellent because it approaches business success by having an individual focus on oneself (confidence, work ethic, motivation, etc.) to achieve that success, as opposed to the typical humdrum of 'say this, do this and you'll be successful' that you'll get from other books." – Garrett Smith, financial advisor, Wells Fargo Advisors
On Amazon, $14.40
"The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale
"[This book] teaches readers how to believe in themselves, build determination, reach your goals, eliminate worry and fear, and improve relationships." – Harrine Freeman, owner and CEO, H.E. Freeman Enterprises
On Amazon, $9.65
"The Un-Bossy Boss" by Gary Magenta
"Most people don't quit a job because they hate the company. They quit because they hate their boss. This book helps managers, as well as company leaders and those working their way up the food chain, to be better at managing others. [It] is an amazing guide to help all of us managers to do our jobs better, which will help our people to feel more engaged, to work with more passion and commitment, and to help them build their careers in a way that makes them feel respected, happy and fulfilled." – Jim Haudan, CEO, Root
On Amazon, $12.49
"To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others" by Daniel Pink
"[This book] really drives home the point that no matter what we do, we are all in the business of sales — selling products, selling services, selling someone on an idea, selling someone on why your proposal or version of the facts is more accurate — and more importantly, how to use that information to more effectively persuade others." –Nina B. Ries, principal, Ries Law Group
On Amazon, $8.79
"Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator" by Ryan Holiday
"You'll learn how the online world of content works and how to manipulate giant scale companies, communities and sites to promote your content for almost free." – Charles Floate, owner, Godlike Marketing
On Amazon, $10.12
"Wall Street: How It Works and for Whom" by Doug Henwood
"This great book is a coherent, although somewhat biased, critique of everything that's wrong with Wall Street. The good news is that for every abuse of power and every misaligned incentive, there is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and new ventures to provide investors with a better deal." – Asheesh Advani, CEO, Covestor
On Amazon, price varies
"Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
"I re-read this book about every five years simply to remind myself that change is good and to embrace the unknown. It has helped shape the way I view business, the world and life in general." – Valerie Reddemann, principal, Hero CMO
The Pro has a better display, but the Air is lighter and sleeker.
If you’re in the market for a premium business notebook, it’s hard to go wrong with a MacBook. The latest iterations of Apple’s MacBook Pro and MacBook Air both sport sleek aluminum designs, stellar keyboards and excellent battery life. And they’re identical in terms of software features; both run on OS X Yosemite, the latest version of Apple’s desktop operating system, which is packed with productivity-boosting features. On the other hand, the Pro offers a much sharper display, as well as better performance, while the Air gives you a sleeker design and more longevity.
So do professionals need the pricier Pro, or can they get by with the slimmer, more affordable MacBook Air? Read on for a head-to-head comparison to see which MacBook is better for business.
Design
Apple still designs some of the best laptops in the world. Both the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air have sturdy aluminum bodies and an accurate keyboard, which business users who plan to do a lot of typing will really appreciate. Both notebooks also include one of the most responsive trackpads around, which comes in handy for precise tasks like editing a spreadsheet.
The Air continues to live up to its name with a superslim, lightweight design. It measures12.8 x 9 inches, with a thickness that tapers from 0.68 inches down to 0.11 inches. And at just three lbs., the MacBook Air certainly won’t weigh you down on a business trip or on your daily commute.
The Pro, meanwhile, is still a pretty portable machine. It has even slimmed down a bit from last year’s model, with a thickness of just 0.71 inches, putting it squarely in the ultraportable category. It also has a slightly smaller footprint than the Air, measuring 12.35 x 8.62 inches. And though it weighs a bit more than the Air, at 3.46 lbs., it’s still pretty easy to carry.
Winner: MacBook Air. The MacBook Air is sleeker, slimmer and lighter, making it a better choice for mobile business users, though the Pro isn’t far behind.
Display
If you want a supersharp display, go with the MacBook Pro. It has a brilliant 2,560 x 1,600-pixel panel that blows the Air’s 1,440 x 99-pixel display away.
In practical terms, that means that the Pro can display more content on screen at once, which is a plus for business users who want to multitask on its 13.3-inch screen. More than 260 Mac applications have been updated to take full advantage of the pixel-dense display, including Microsoft Office, Photoshop CS6 and Google Chrome. Text generally looks a lot sharper on the Pro than on the Air, which will save business users some eye strain.
Both displays are equally bright, measuring about 288 nits on our brightness test. That means that both screens should be pretty easy to see outdoors and in direct sunlight. The Pro does show richer, more accurate colors than the Air, however.
Winner: MacBook Pro. The Pro wins this round easily, with a brighter, sharper, richer display.
Performance
The MacBook Pro is, of course, a bit more powerful than the Air, but both notebooks offer great performance for daily use.
On our OpenOffice spreadsheet test, which tasks a computer with pairing 20,000 names and addresses, the Pro took just 3 minutes and 20 seconds — that’s 26 seconds faster than the Air, which took 3 minutes and 46 seconds. Another test involved duplicating 5GB of multimedia files, in which the notebooks were just about evenly matched; both copied the files at about 190 MBps. The bottom line is that Apple’s lower-end notebook handled both tasks nearly as well as the MacBook Pro.
The Pro’s Intel Iris graphics chip does outperform the Intel HD 5000 GPU in the Air, making a good case for artists and video editors to pick up the more premium notebook. Still, the Pro only edged out the Air by a little bit on our graphics benchmark test, scoring 21.33 to the Air’s 18.47.
Designers and other creative professionals may need the extra oomph afforded by the Pro, but the Air can easily handle just about any productivity task you throw at it. The Air feels plenty fast for composing documents, browsing emails and running most applications. Still, we can’t deny that the Pro is the more powerful machine — even if that won’t matter much in most offices.
Winner: MacBook Pro. If speed really matters to you, the MacBook Pro offers slightly better performance for demanding tasks.
BUY MacBook Air >>>
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Ports and connectivity
The superslim MacBook Air has a limited number of connectivity options. It includes two USB 3.0 ports, one Thunderbolt port and an SDXC card slot, so you can expand your notebook’s storage. The Air can only be linked to a single external monitor, however, via its sole Thunderbolt port.
In comparison, the Pro offers two USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port and an SDXC card slot. That means that the Pro can be linked to two monitors at 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, via the Thunderbolt ports, and an additional monitor at 1080p, via the HDMI port. That’s a perk for business users who really need a lot of extra screen space to work. You’ll also enjoy the ability to plug in an additional accessory, such as an external hard drive to back up your data.
Winner: MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro’s extra ports might not be a game changer for the average consumer, but they’ll really benefit business users.
Battery life
Long battery life is important for business users who depend on their notebook to last through the end of the workday. That’s why the MacBook Air’s marathon battery life is such a perk. The slim device lasted an epic 12 hours and 50 minutes on our battery test, which involves continuous Web surfing over Wi-Fi.
The MacBook Pro offers good battery life. The machine ran for 10 hours and 44 minutes on the same test, which is nearly three hours longer than the category average, but two hours shorter than the Air. Both notebooks benefit from Intel’s 4th-generation Core processors, which offer greater efficiency and better longevity.
Winner: MacBook Air. Offering nearly 13 hours of battery life, the MacBook Air easily tops the Pro’s already impressive 10 hours and 44 minutes.
Price and value
Of course, you’ll have to pay for the Pro’s superfast processor and sharp display. The cheapest version of the MacBook Pro costs $1,299, with a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. In comparison, the MacBook Air is a lot more affordable. For $999, you can pick up the low-end model, which still includes a very respectable 1.4-GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.
You can also buy a pricier version of the Air, which costs $1,199 and ups the storage to 256, but is otherwise identical to the lower-end model. The $1,799 Pro model, meanwhile, has a 2.8-GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of flash storage.
Winner: MacBook Air. The MacBook Pro may be more powerful, but it’s also a lot more expensive, making the Air a lot better value for most business users.
Conclusion
It’s a toss-up, with the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air each taking three of the six categories in this matchup. The Pro sports a sharper display and slightly better performance, making it more reliable for demanding productivity tasks. It also has a few extra ports that could benefit business users. But the Air is slimmer and lighter, with better battery life and a more affordable price point. And for most business users, it offers more than enough power for daily use.
Signing a commercial lease is one of the biggest steps in a business owner's entrepreneurial journey. Whether you need a retail space to serve as a storefront or you just want a permanent, professional location to conduct business, a real estate lease can make or break your company, so it's crucial to get it right the first time around.
"With a commercial property that will house your business assets and employees, there is a lot at stake," said Robert Bressman, a director of the real estate practice at law firm Goulston & Storrs. "Leases are long-term, with more variables and more complexity. A lease is a liability but can also be an asset."
If you've never negotiated a commercial lease, the process can seem intimidating and overwhelming. Bressman offered a few tips to help first-time lessees through this important business transaction.
Understand the full financial commitment. Before you even begin looking at properties, you need to have a "big-picture" view of what this lease will entail financially, Bressman said. Business owners should know their company's current financial health, projected revenue and ability to assume risk prior to moving forward with a lease, to ensure they will be able to afford it.
Read up on real estate terminology. Financial preparedness isn't the only factor that determines whether you can lease commercial space. Even if you think you've found a perfect location that you can afford, you should read the fine print before making a commitment. For example, Bressman noted that a business owner should understand the differences among classes of commercial property (typically A, B and C) as well as the difference between "rentable" and "usable" space. Usable space is strictly the space you occupy and use for your business, but you may be charged more for the shared costs of the full rentable space of the building.
"Many additional items are incorporated into the lease agreement, including real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, and maintenance and operating costs of the building," Bressman told Business News Daily. "This can result in additional costs to the transaction [of] which business owners should be aware. In addition, the lease will need to include provisions for subletting, expansion and possible early termination."
There are plenty of online resources, such as Property Metrics and 42 Floors, that can give you a basic overview of commercial real estate and help you learn what to expect.
Don't try to do it on your own. If you're the kind of entrepreneur who takes the DIY approach to running your business, you may want to think twice about going through the leasing process alone. While it may be an expense up front, working with an experienced real estate broker or lawyer can help you avoid some easy-to-make mistakes and negotiate better terms for your lease.
"Business owners, particularly founders of small companies, can ... miss nuances and important terms in the documents, which is why a neutral, third-party adviser can help negotiate more favorable terms and know when and where to challenge existing offers," Bressman said. "It's also easy for business owners to get caught up in the way a space looks, rather than the terms of the lease, which can impact the space management, operations and financial obligation over the term of the lease."
Always think long-term. You may not plan to stay in the space you're leasing forever, but Bressman reminded business owners to think about the long-term effects your retail or office building will have on your company's image.
"[With a lease,] you're also investing in your company's brand," he said. "Think carefully about where you want to establish your footprint and what type of image a certain neighborhood or facility conveys. Be sure that your legal and real estate advisers help you design a strategy that works for the future of your business."
Looking for a Windows tablet for your business? Check out the second-generation HP ElitePad 1000.
The HP ElitePad 1000 debuted back in February, and HP has upgraded the Windows 8.1-powered device with a faster processor and a brighter 10.1-inch, 1080p-resolution display.
Read on to find out what makes the HP ElitePad 1000 the right — or wrong — tablet for your business.
Performance
Powered by a quad-core 1.6-GHz Intel Atom Z3795 processor, the ElitePad 1000 has more punch to run business apps than its predecessor. However, compared with its competitors, Microsoft's Surface Pro 3 and Lenovo's ThinkPad 10, it could have benefitted from an even faster, more powerful CPU.
In task-specific performance benchmark tests conducted by our sister site Laptop Mag, the ElitePad 1000 scored lower than the Surface Pro 3 and ThinkPad 10. Nonetheless, the ElitePad 1000 redeems itself by scoring higher than the tablet average in overall performance.
The ElitePad 1000 also offers a decent battery life. Laptop Mag's Battery Test revealed a battery life of 7 hours and 55 minutes while we browsed the Web over Wi-Fi, which is a tad longer than the Surface Pro 3, though 1 hour less than the ThinkPad 10 and roughly half an hour less than the tablet average.
Security
If you need a high-security, IT-ready tablet, the ElitePad 1000 has you covered. It's packed with several security features to keep your tablet safe, including:
HP BIOS Protection. Sign-on authentication to prevent unauthorized access.
HP Client Security. Provides multiple layers of defense against identity and data theft.
Drive Encryption. Full-volume encryption for your hard drive.
HP Device Access Manager. Control external devices that connect to your tablet and export or import data.
Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2. A hardware security chip that embeds security into a specific device.
There is also the yet-to-be-released Security Jacket, a tablet sleeve that HP says will add a fingerprint scanner and smart card reader to the device.
Ports
What really holds the ElitePad 1000 back from being a great business tablet is that, unlike other Windows 8.1-powered tablets, it doesn't come with any built-in USB or HDMI ports. The only ports you'll find are the covered microSD and SIM card slots.
To attach a USB device, you'll need to either use the HP dongle that comes with the device or purchase additional accessories. The dongle connects to the System Connector, to which you can then connect a single USB device.
For more functionality, you'll need to purchase a "jacket" for your ElitePad. One option is the Expansion Jacket, a tablet sleeve that adds two USB ports, an HDMI output and an SD card slot. It will also have an optional second battery to give you an additional 20-hour boost. The Expansion Jacket will set you back $79, and the optional battery is $149. A more expensive option is the $249 HP ElitePad Productivity Jacket, an all-in-one keyboard and case that includes two USB ports and an SD card slot.
Some job seekers use Twitter to follow and research the companies they want to work for. Others use the platform to broadcast their skills and expertise in the hopes of attracting attention from recruiters. But the most successful job seekers use the social network as a resource for bite-size tips that will help them get an interview and land the position they want. For the very best Twitter has to offer in job search and career advice, check out these 10 accounts.
@Absolutely_Abby (Abby Kohut)
Abby Kohut is an author and recruiter who travels the country speaking at career events and inspiring job seekers everywhere. But it's not just live audiences that benefit from her expertise and wisdom: Kohut's 20,100 Twitter followers receive daily tidbits of great career advice. Follow @Absolutely_Abby.
@AlisonDoyle
About.com's resident job search expert, Alison Doyle writes and tweets about finding a job, employment and unemployment, and general career advice. She helps her 16,400 followers navigate the interview process, but also dispenses tips for reaching your career goals. Follow @AlisonDoyle.
@CareerBliss
This career community provides its 22,800 followers with company reviews, job listings, hiring trends and interview tips. In addition to sharing articles on a wide range of career topics, CareerBliss just released its annual "50 Happiest Companies in America" list for 2015. Follow @CareerBliss.
@CareerBuilder
CareerBuilder has established itself as an expert from both the employee's perspective and the employer's (with its sister account, @CBforEmployers). The 131,000 followers of the company's main account have access to thoughtful articles, original video content, and an advice forum where job seekers can ask their questions and share their stories. Follow @CareerBuilder.
@careersherpa (Hannah Morgan)
With social networks becoming more and more central to the recruitment and hiring process, workers need to know how to take advantage of the medium when they're job hunting. Author and speaker Hannah Morgan, who has been quoted in numerous popular media outlets, has gained her following of 27,700 by doling out highly effective social media strategies for job seekers. Follow @careersherpa.
@CreativeGroup (The Creative Group)
While this staffing agency's tweets are geared toward creative professionals, anyone can benefit from The Creative Group's posts about hiring trends, workplace relationships and career success. The account's 12,700 followers also get an inside look at life at The Creative Group. Follow @CreativeGroup.
@dailymuse (The Muse)
The Muse is a unique, dynamic career content website that offers readers tips for landing their dream jobs. More than 57,000 followers turn to the site's Twitter account for inspiring career resource lists and articles on finding, keeping and excelling at your job. Follow @dailymuse.
@JobSearchAmanda (Amanda Augustine)
Career consultant Amanda Augustine is a job search expert at TheLadders (also included on this list). As a certified professional career coach (CPCC) and résumé writer (CPRW), she shares relevant job search articles and answers questions from her more than 9,800 followers through her hashtag #AskAmanda. Follow @JobSearchAmanda.
@OfficeTeam
As a sister staffing firm of The Creative Group, Office Team is well-versed in what it takes to land a job. More than 3,200 followers enjoy career and workplace tips from the Office Team blog and various sources around the Web. Follow @OfficeTeam.
@USNewsCareers
The career division of U.S. News helps its 20,800 followers find career success with search tips, best-job rankings and interview advice. It also hosts regular Twitter chats to let everyday job seekers join in the conversation. Follow @USNewsCareers.
The Stream 13 stands out thanks to its striking blue design. BUY HP Stream 13 >>>
HP's new Stream 13 is one of the better budget Windows laptops you can buy. The 13-inch (33 centimeters) notebook delivers good performance, a high-quality keyboard and a colorful, attractive design, all for just $230. That puts this device in the same ballpark as a Chromebook, one of the super-affordable notebooks that run on Google's lightweight Chrome OS operating system. But the Stream 13 runs on Windows, making it a more versatile machine for serious business users. The device does have some downsides, including a dim display and short battery life. Check out a full review of the HP Stream 13 at our sister site, Laptop Mag, or read on to see how this device stacks up as a business PC.
Pros
Value: The Stream 13 has a lot to offer for just $230. It comes with a 2.16-GHz Intel Celeron processor, which provides relatively snappy performance for a budget machine. It also includes a 13-inch display, three USB ports and a comfortable keyboard. That makes the Stream 13 a good value for budget-minded business users.
Windows 8.1: You can buy a Chromebook for a similar price, but those machines run on Google's limited Chrome OS platform. The Stream 13 runs on the full version of Windows 8.1, so it's compatible with all the PC software you already use to run your business.
Office 365: As an extra perk for business users, the Stream 13 comes with a free one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365, which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as 1TB of cloud storage.
Cons
Short battery life: The Stream 13 can't match the battery life of its Chromebook competition. HP's machine ran for just 6 hours and 26 minutes in our battery life test, which involves continuous Web browsing over Wi-Fi. That's about 1.5 hours shorter than the laptop average.
Dim display: The Stream 13 has a 1,366 x 768-pixel display, but it isn't very bright, and it doesn't provide particularly wide viewing angles, either. That means the picture starts to wash out when you turn the screen.
Heat: This laptop runs a little hot, registering 101 degrees at the bottom of the device. That's a bit warmer than our comfort threshold of 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius). It's a small issue, but something to consider if you plan to use the Stream 13 on your lap a lot.
Conclusion
The HP Stream 13 is a solid business notebook that offers good performance and the flexibility of Windows 8.1 at an extremely affordable price. Longer battery life and a better display would be nice, but the Stream 13 is still a great bargain for small business owners on a budget.
In a world that revolves around technology, video is an important tool for businesses. And whether you use video as a marketing tool or center your entire brand on video content, social media is a great medium for sharing these clips (and making them go viral, if you're lucky!).
Facebook recognizes the importance of video content, so the company is testing a new update to the video section of Facebook pages. According to Tech Crunch, the social networking giant wants to make pages "less like a newspaper that come[s] to you and more like TV channels you turn on."
The update, which ABC News and a few other business pages have tested, seems to mirror YouTube in design and functionality. Now, when users click the Videos tab on a brand's Facebook page, they'll see a large, featured video with the comments to the right side. Below that will be a section for the page's video playlists. As for now, the content under the Videos tab simply looks like a photo album, with video stills and the play length.
This new layout will be a great way to highlight videos that have done well in your campaigns or new videos that you want to gain traction. However, Tech Crunch noted that if you don't select featured videos or make playlists, your videos will show up simply as a chronological list. But unlike the current display, this list will additionally show titles, video length, "like" counts and view counts.
Facebook's recent focus on video content seems especially appropriate given that video views per month on the social network grew 50 percent from May to July, 2014, according to Tech Crunch.
Facebook will automatically roll out the new design to all pages in the coming weeks, the company told Tech Crunch.
When you're putting together a team of employees, you'd be best-served by having someone who hates disappointing others as its leader, new research suggests.
Workers who are highly prone to feeling guilty for disappointing their colleagues are among the most ethical and hard-working partners, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The problem, however, is actually getting these types of people to work in teams.
The study's authors discovered that highly guilt-prone employees make valuable work partners because a concern about letting others down drives them to at least complete their fair share of the work.
"Because of this concern for the impact of their actions on others' welfare, highly guilt-prone people often outwork their less guilt-prone colleagues, demonstrate more effective leadership and contribute more to the success of the teams and partnerships in which they are involved," Scott Wiltermuth, an assistant professor of management and organization at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business and one of the study's authors, said in a statement.
However, these same behavioral tendencies also lead these employees to shy away from entering into certain partnerships at work, according to the research.
In five studies, the authors demonstrated that highly guilt-prone workers may avoid forming interdependent partnerships with co-workers they perceive to be more competent than themselves, because not being able to provide as much value to the team as their partner could trigger feelings of guilt in them.
In addition, the researchers found that in the studies where they gave participants information about their potential partners' areas of expertise and then asked them with whom they'd like to work, they were less likely to choose the most competent partner. Wiltermuth said the participants were afraid to contribute less to the task than their partner and, thus, let them down.
"It may come as a surprise, but our findings demonstrate that people who lack competence may not always seek out competence in others when choosing work partners," Wiltermuth said.
The study's authors believe those in supervisory roles can use this research to create the most effective dynamics in the workplace and increase productivity.
"Managers could try to ensure that highly guilt-prone people are creating the partnerships and perhaps even assuming leadership roles on teams, despite highly guilt-prone people's fear that by accepting these leadership positions they might be putting themselves into [a] position to let their teammates down," Wiltermuth said.
The study was co-authored by Taya Cohen, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
Randy Lewis was leading a division of about 10,000 Walgreens employees in 1988 when his son, who has autism, was born.
"I got to see him grow up and continuously surprise me," said Lewis, who retired two years ago as senior vice president at the company. "But I also thought of the stark reality that there was a chance he'd never have a job."
As his son went through school, Lewis realized he wasn't the only parent with that concern. He also realized he was in a position to do something about it. Lewis launched a program at Walgreens' distribution centers to more aggressively hire people with disabilities. The program grew to the point where 30 percent of the staff in some distribution centers had disabilities and then 50 percent, he said.
Some companies — large and small — consider hiring people with disabilities a good deed or charity work. Lewis, however, has a different perspective: He says it's a smart business and financial decision.
"We studied all the data; we published it," said Lewis, who later wrote a book on his experience, "No Greatness Without Goodness" (Tyndale House Publishers, 2014). "The performance was the same. The safety was better. [The distribution centers] had better retention; they had less turnover. We also found better culture across the company."
Leo Vercollone, president of VERC Enterprises Inc., owns 26 gas stations, convenience stores and car washes in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He had never thought about hiring employees with disabilities, he said, until his brother and business partner was approached by a friend who served as a board member for a local nonprofit that assists people with developmental disabilities. The organization was looking to find employment for one of its clients.
Vercollone gave the man a job, and it worked out. So the company began building relationships with other nonprofits, such as Best Buddies, to hire employees with disabilities to stock shelves, clean, assist cashiers and do landscaping work. Now, the company strives to have a staff made up of 20 percent people with disabilities. Some of the employees have developmental disabilities, and others have physical disabilities.
"They are committed and passionate workers," Vercollone said. "They go to work every day with a smile on their face. They love it. This is their life. And that attitude is contagious. We have 270 employees, and probably 75 percent live paycheck to paycheck. These people have some challenges of their own. But working with [people with disabilities] helps put their own challenges into perspective."
There are countless nonprofits across the country that help people with disabilities find employment. Some provide on-site job coaches who can help teach the employee the job and guide them through it. Sometimes, the job coach is temporary; other times, it is permanent. Some focus on developmental disabilities, and others on physical disabilities. Despite these organizations' work, the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was 13.2 percent in 2013, compared with 7.1 percent for people without disabilities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Manhattan-based Visionary Media is a nonprofit that helps people with vision impairment find work in music, advertising and media. The organization was founded in 2006 by Doug Maxwell, a legally blind musician and music producer, said the organization's CEO, Brooke Fox.
Visionary Media offers musicians discounted recording time and professional opportunities, said Fox, who has albinism and is legally blind. The organization offers training for audio engineers and, perhaps most important, helps musicians make the right connections, she said.
"With blindness or limited vision, where it's really a challenge is networking," said Fox, whose organization had a contestant on NBC's "The Voice" last year. "Imagine walking into a room and not being able to see who's in the room. You don't know who to talk with to advance your career."
There are also some for-profit businesses with the goal of matching companies to people with disabilities, and vice versa. Steve McEvoy, an out-of-work New York City teacher with cerebral palsy and a learning disability, recently started a consulting firm, McEvoy Access Consulting, to do just that.
"Employers have shut a lot of doors [on me], and I finally said, 'If you don't want to give me a job, I'll make my own,'" said McEvoy, who holds a master's degree from Columbia University.
Although companies like Walgreens have had success in hiring people with disabilities, McEvoy said, many more are afraid to do so. They think performance will suffer, or that they won't be able to fire a person without it resulting in a lawsuit, he said.
Like Lewis, McEvoy doesn't believe companies should hire people with disabilities out of pity or as charity. There are measurable economic benefits, and companies should focus on those, he said.
"The data is there; it's just about going in and telling a company it's there," he said. "Ninety percent of people with disabilities meet or exceed productivity requirements. It's really just about changing how people view people with disabilities."
Davina Douthard, CEO of Los Angeles-based Polishing the Professional, an image consulting and brand management firm, has contracts with several nonprofits to help place people with developmental and physical disabilities in jobs. She was interested in the work because of her experience helping her brother, who is mentally disabled, find a job.
"I was frustrated," said Douthard, who has placed many hundreds of people with disabilities in jobs since 1998. "I thought, 'There's got to be somebody to help him. There's got to be some resource to help him.'"
Like Lewis and McEvoy, Douthard said companies shouldn't have the mind-set that hiring people with disabilities is charity work, or that they should meet some sort of quota for hiring people with disabilities and stop there.
"At the end of the day, a business is a business. It has to make money," Douthard said. "I place people in jobs they can do. They have all the same rights and responsibilities as people who are not disabled."
"A person with a disability can be the right person for the job," she said. "Many people don't think that. It's just a lack of awareness."
Twitter Analytics is one of the most indispensable tools in a small business's arsenal. Now, mobile users have access to the dashboard for on-the-go analytics.
Twitter announced yesterday (Dec. 22) — in a tweet, no less — that it is adding mobile analytics to its iOS app. Called the Tweet activity dashboard, this feature displays a wide range of Tweet data that the company says will "help you optimize your performance on Twitter" by leveraging insights and incorporating them into your Twitter marketing strategy.
Here's what Twitter's new mobile analytics dashboard has to offer and how it can help your business.
Answer important questions
The Tweet Activity Dashboard can help you discover and break down key metrics by answering some of the most critical questions you have as a Twitter business user. Metrics include:
Impressions: how many times your Tweet appears in timelines or search results
Embedded media clicks: number of clicks to view a photo or video in a Tweet
Link clicks (including Cards)
Profile clicks (including profile photo clicks)
Favorites, retweets, email shares and detail expands
Follows directly from a Tweet
Twitter said that in addition to providing numbers, these metrics can help you answer the following marketing questions to improve your campaigns and boost engagement:
Which of my tweets resonate best with my target audience?
How do my tweet metrics break out by organic and promoted activity?
How does my recent performance compare to past results?
How do my engagement metrics break down by type?
Using the mobile analytics dashboard
To start using mobile analytics, you'll need a Twitter Ads or Twitter Analytics account. Sign up for free at http://ads.twitter.com or http://analytics.twitter.com.
You can access the mobile dashboard directly from the Twitter app. Just click on a tweet, and then click on the "View Tweet Activity" option located right below your tweet. This will bring up the Tweet activity screen, which shows total impressions, total engagements, engagement highlights, profile clicks and more.
You'll also need the latest version of Twitter from iOS. Update the app from your Settings menu or from the App Store.
What's the key to winning over consumers today? Business experts will cite everything from a strong loyalty program to a personalized, mobile-friendly shopping experience. These offerings are certainly important, but one thing that may tip the scales in your favor is using your profits to do good in the world.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a business practice that involves participating in initiatives that benefit society. Liz Maw, CEO of nonprofit organization Net Impact, noted that CSR is becoming more mainstream as forward-thinking companies embed sustainability into the core of their business operations to create shared value for business and society.
"Sustainability isn't just important for people and the planet, but also is vital for business success," said Maw, whose company connects students and professionals who want to use business skills to do social good. "Communities are grappling with problems that are global in scope and structurally multifaceted — Ebola, persistent poverty, climate change. The business case for engaging in corporate social responsibility is clear and unmistakable. Billions are at stake if fast and large-scale action is not taken."
As consumers' awareness about global social issues continues to grow, so does the importance these customers place on CSR when choosing where to shop.
"Technology has brought global connectivity and enabled advocacy and awareness for social situations that were once obscure," said Alexis Magnan-Callaway, whose fashion company Pax Cult donates 10 percent of its profits to an organization of the customer's choice. "Millennials are redefining what it means to connect and give back through this technology. It's not just about having a recycling program or sustainable products. People want to feel good about what their dollar is doing."
Consumers aren't the only ones who are drawn to businesses that give back. Susan Cooney, founder of crowdfunding philanthropy platform Givelocity, said that a company's CSR strategy is a big factor in where today's top talent chooses to work.
"The next generation of employees is seeking out employers that are focused on the triple bottom line: people, planet and revenue," Cooney told Business News Daily. "Coming out of the recession, corporate revenue has been getting stronger. Companies are encouraged to put that increased profit into programs that give back."
Types of corporate social responsibility
CSR can encompass a wide variety of tactics, from giving nonprofit organizations a portion of a company's proceeds, to giving away a product or service to a worthy recipient for every sale made. Here are a few of the broad categories of social responsibility that businesses are practicing:
Environment: One primary focus of corporate social responsibility is the environment. Businesses, both large and small, have a large carbon footprint. Any steps they can take to reduce those footprints are considered both good for the company and society as a whole.
Philanthropy: Businesses also practice social responsibility by donating to national and local charities. Whether it involves giving money or time, businesses have a lot of resources that can benefit charities and local community programs.
Ethical labor practices: By treating employees fairly and ethically, companies can also demonstrate their corporate social responsibility. This is especially true of businesses that operate in international locations with labor laws that differ from those in the United States.
Examples of corporate social responsibility
While many companies now practice some form of social responsibility, some are making it a core of their operations. Ben and Jerry's, for instance, uses only fair trade ingredients and has developed a dairy farm sustainability program in its home state of Vermont. Starbucks has created its C.A.F.E. Practices guidelines, which are designed to ensure the company sources sustainably grown and processed coffee by evaluating the economic, social and environmental aspects of coffee production. Tom's Shoes, another notable example of a company with CSR at its core, donates one pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair a customer purchases.
Undertaking socially responsible initiatives is truly a win-win situation. Not only will your company appeal to socially conscious consumers and employees, but you'll also make a real difference in the world. Keep in mind that in CSR, transparency and honesty about what you're doing are paramount to earning the public's trust.
"If decisions [about social responsibility] are made behind closed doors, people will wonder if there are strings attached, and if the donations are really going where they say," Cooney said. "Engage your employees [and consumers] in giving back. Let them feel like they have a voice."
Additional reporting by Chad Brooks, Business News Daily senior writer.
Does your small business rely on Google Drive to stay productive? Now, it's even easier to store, access and share files on the go from your mobile device.
Google has updated the Google Drive app for Android and iOS, adding improved search, upload and file-sharing capabilities to make the most out of the cloud storage and collaboration platform.
Here's what the Google Drive Android and iOS update has to offer and how it can help your business.
Android update
If you're an Android user, you can now take advantage of faster, better search to quickly find files and documents you're looking for. Just use Google Now voice command and tell it to look for specific content. As with the rest of Google Now functions, there's no need to open the app manually or type in your search. For instance, if you need to access an important report, just say, "OK, Google, search for financial report" to pull up the files you need.
iOS update
Adding files to your cloud storage and collaboration platform should be easy and seamless, regardless of file sources. The Google Drive update for iOS streamlines file uploads by expanding transfer options. Now, instead of just the Google Drive app, you can upload content from other iOS apps. This function works on both the iPhone and iPad versions of Google Drive.
Map sharing
Need to send directions to your office or a meeting place? Google My Maps lets you create and share maps online, and it's now integrated with Google Drive. Instead of having to open Google My Maps manually and creating new directions each time, both the Android and iOS updates let you access and share custom maps created with Google My Maps.
Get the update
The Google Drive update for iOS is now available on the App Store, and the Android update is set to be rolled out within the next couple of weeks. You can also visit g.co/getdrive from your mobile Web browser to download the latest version of the Google Drive app.
