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When disaster strikes, government emergency alert systems offer a simple promise: Residents will get information about nearby dangers and instructions to help them stay safe. As the deadly L.A. wildfires and other major emergencies have shown, alerts rely on a complicated chain of communication between first responders, government administrators, third-party companies, and the public. Sometimes, the chain breaks. After the wind-driven wildfires broke out in Southern California on January 7, evacuation orders for some neighborhoods—including the part of Altadena where the majority of deaths occurred—came long after houses were reported on fire. On Tuesday, Los Angeles County officials approved an outside review of how alerts functioned in the Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire in response to residents’ demands. City officials declined to answer AP’s questions about a lag in some Palisades Fire alerts, though Fire Capt. Branden Silverman said responding to a fire and determining evacuation needs can take some time. It’s an increasingly common issue: After-action reports and investigations revealed issues with alert systems in other California blazes: in the 2017 Tubbs Fire, which killed 22 people in Santa Rosa; the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 people in Paradise; the Woolsey fire, which started the same day and killed three in Malibu; as well as in Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire, which destroyed more than 1,000 homes outside Denver; and in Hawaii’s 2023 Lahaina Fire, which decimated that historic town and killed 102. It could take months to know why some evacuation orders lagged in the Los Angeles fires. Several residents who lost homes in the Eaton Fire told The Associated Press they received no notifications about their neighborhoods. For others, the first warning was an urgent text message in the middle of the night. Susan Lee Streets, who signed up for the alert app Nixle, did not get any alerts specific to her west Altadena neighborhood before she and her family left of their own accord around 10 p.m. after losing power and cell reception. “If we had even been informed that houses and other structures were burning down, we would have known better what was happening,” she said. “We almost went to sleep that night with two kids and a dog and two cats in the house.” Only after 3 a.m. did an alert hit her phone. Destroyed along with the house are the Christmas ornaments she saved for her children, and countless other family keepsakes. “We lost everything, everything,” Streets said, breaking into tears. Tricia Wachtendorf, director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware, said alerts have to be specific and clear. Research has shown that for them to be effective, people have to hear, understand, believe, personalize and confirm them before they react. “Just because you send the message at 3 a.m. doesn’t mean someone is hearing it,” Wachtendorf said. The hours between midnight and 3:30 a.m. appear to have been particularly challenging for first responders in Los Angeles County, based on an AP review of scanner traffic recordings and data from CalFire, the state’s chief fire agency; the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA; and the Watch Duty app. Resources were stretched thin, and hurricane-force winds had grounded air support, limiting authorities’ ability to get a top-down perspective on the flames. Calls reporting burning homes were flooding in as embers blew onto roofs and yards. During one half-hour period, 17 new addresses were relayed to firefighters, even as some crews ran low on fuel. By 12:07 a.m., CalFire records show, dozens of neighborhoods had been ordered to evacuate because of the Eaton Fire, all of them east of Altadena’s North Lake Avenue. None of the neighborhoods to the west — where all of the 17 confirmed fatalities occurred, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times — had received evacuation warnings or orders, despite house fires being reported there more than an hour earlier. Over the next three hours, fire crews would go from begging for resources on the eastern flank of the blaze to radioing the command center to make sure it knew the fire was spreading west along the foothills near Sunset Ridge. Just before 3:30 a.m., evacuation orders expanded significantly, with residents in 12 areas of Altadena and elsewhere told to “leave now.” Jodi and Jeff Moreno first heard about the fire from a neighborhood app. But the first official warning only came around 2:30 a.m., when authorities yelled through a bullhorn to evacuate. The couple grabbed their three daughters, their dog and some important papers, and fled. There were no text alerts until after they were gone. “On the neighborhood apps, some people were going, some people were staying. It was a wide variety of responses. We were navigating it on our own,” Jodi Moreno said. “It’s hard for us to gauge where exactly is that fire, where are the embers blowing. … Those are things I would rely on people who are monitoring it” for information. Desperate for more information, both the Morenos and Streets downloaded the Watch Duty app, which maps evacuation zones and consolidates information from multiple sources into a single stream. Launched in 2021 and today covering 22 states, it became a lifeline for them. “The ideal system for warning people is informing them, right?” said Nick Russell, vice president for operations at Watch Duty. “There’s certainly diligence necessary in the execution of official evacuation warning and orders or shelter in place, whatever the condition might be,” he said. “But telling people why that discussion is taking place between law enforcement and fire is important. And that’s what we’re doing.” The process of issuing evacuation notices starts with firefighters or other personnel on the ground recommending action, Russell said. It then moves up the chain of command to sheriffs, who ultimately put out any order. During major emergencies that communication can be hampered by issues such as limited radio connectivity, wind noise or other technical problems. Incident command stations may have trouble synthesizing the large amounts of information they are getting from different agencies, something that is critical for understanding the scope of an emergency like a fire. In Los Angeles County, residents who sign up for emergency notifications through the AlertLACounty website are then directed to a list of 57 links to other specific neighborhood or city alert system signups, as well as a general one covering 19 other cities. The city of Los Angeles and the Sheriff’s Department also have alert systems. It is not clear how the overlapping systems, which use different software programs, work together, or whether officials coordinate. A 2024 Hazard Mitigation plan directed the city’s Emergency Management Department to assess gaps in alert and warning systems in areas with poor cellphone connectivity and then implement a solution to ensure alerts reach people. But that goal was given a “medium” priority level and a long-term timeline, with completion expected sometime in the next 10 years. Meanwhile the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, last updated in 2020, did not include a focus on emergency alerts or public notifications. Instead its high-priority goals had to do with educating people about wind’s impact on wildfire risk and with community wildfire protection. Officials at the County’s Coordinated Joint Information Center declined to comment other than to say that an independent review of evacuations and emergency notifications is planned and the Office of Emergency Management, County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department plan to fully engage with it. —Christopher L. Keller, Claudia Lauer, Amy Taxin and Rebecca Boone, Associated Press View the full article

If you're tired of how your Mac desktop looks, consider changing your app icons. It can be a fiddly process by default, but luckily, there are ways to make it easier. By using these methods, you can make your dock reflect your wallpaper's aesthetic, ensure that all app icons are the same size, or just replace ugly app icons with something better. Where to find Mac app icons Credit: Pranay Parab While you can easily find icons for various Mac apps with a quick web search, it's much easier to get them from a site dedicated to icons. One of my favorites is macOSicons.com, which lists over 25,000 alternative icons, meaning you should be able to find multiple options for popular apps with ease. Changing Mac app icons using the built-in methodmacOS allows you to change an app's icon manually, but it has one frustrating drawback. Getting started, however, is easy. First, download or create an alternate icon, then open Finder and go to the Applications folder in the left pane. Select any app and press Command-I to open an Info pane. Now drag-and-drop the new app icon into the top-left corner of the Info pane. This will replace the app icon for you. This method is fast and free, but annoyingly, your app will go back to using its default icon with every update. Using free apps to replace macOS icons Credit: Pranay Parab You can also use one of two free apps to replace macOS app icons for you. These are IconChamp and Pictogram. Both show you a list of your Mac's installed apps and let you manually pick an alternative icon. As much as I want to recommend these options, both apps haven't been updated for years, so they don't always work reliably. For instance, IconChamp has a premium tier that supposedly lets you pay a one-time fee that unlocks the ability to change system app icons. However, the purchase page for this tier doesn't load and there's no way to buy it at time of writing. These free apps might work in a pinch, but if you want a more robust solution to changing app icons, consider paying for a better alternative. A paid app that can change icons for you Credit: Pranay Parab That brings me to Replacicon, which costs $8 and is probably the best way to customize your Mac icons. Although $8 is steep for what is essentially a single-purpose app, Replacicon has a few features that may justify the cost for some people. The best one is that it installs a helper tool to monitor app updates and it retains your replaced icons even after apps are updated. This feature alone is enough to justify the purchase to those serious about macOS theming. Replacicon also has an easy-to-understand interface that provides a bunch of alternative app icons for each app installed on your Mac. Changing an app icon is as simple as clicking on one of the alternatives. To use an icon that's not listed as an alternative by default, you can also click the + button next to the list and choose one of three options: use a downloaded icon file, create an icon from any saved image on your Mac, and use Apple Intelligence to generate an app icon. All three options open a pop-up window, and once you've selected or generated an icon, the app will automatically add it to its list of icons and replace your existing icon for you. Not having to leave Replacicon to go looking for files is great, and it makes the process seamless. To make your list of apps more manageable, Replacicon provides two filters. One of these lets you view only the apps that are currently in the Dock, and another highlights only apps that have legacy icons—from the time when macOS icons used to be of different shapes and sizes. Nowadays, macOS icons have adopted an iOS-style uniform size with rounded corners, and you can use the legacy icon filter to spot the icons in need of uniformity with the rest of the Dock. View the full article

Real estate agents make from $20,000 to more than $100,000 annually. The wide range happens due to the wide variety in types of real estate agents. There are those who are just getting started and doing the work as a side gig. There are top performers who are working deals all their waking hours. Which one are you? The earning potential of a real estate agent is open-ended. If you don’t mind working long hours – including evenings and weekends – and like helping people, this is a great field for you. How do Realtors Get Paid? First, a couple of key definitions. A real estate agent can act as a buyer’s agent or a seller’s agent. A buyer’s agent represents the buyer. The seller’s agent (or listing agent) represents the seller. It’s possible that real estate agents can handle both ends of the transaction by bringing a buyer to a house the agent has listed for a seller. Realtors earn their income through commissions, typically divided equally between the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent. In cases where the property is priced lower, the agents might receive a flat fee instead. For those just beginning their careers, it’s essential to understand that effectively marketing yourself is crucial for achieving long-term success. Stay updated with the latest real estate marketing tips to maintain a competitive edge. How Does Real Estate Commission Work? Real estate agents work under brokers. The broker is a real estate company. How does the commission work? A typical real estate agent commission fee might be 6%, which is 6% of the sales price. The 6% commission split is 3% for each agent (seller and buyer). Each real estate agent doesn’t get the entire 3%. Instead, the individual agent usually splits the 3% fee with the broker. The split is usually 50-50. Real estate agents may charge higher or lower commission percentage fees, depending on what is set by the real estate broker. Real estate agents usually are also paid a base salary. How to Make Money as a Real Estate Agent Most realtors handle residential properties. Some agents specialize in land and commercial property sales. Real estate commissions for land and residential sales range from 6 to 8 percent. Commissions on commercial sales may be higher. An agent earns a commission with each real estate transaction. How much you make depends on the land, commercial property, or home’s selling price. More sales lead to higher earnings. Whether you’re working with a single brokerage or one of the numerous real estate franchises, it’s essential to carefully examine the payment structures, as they can vary significantly from one firm to another. Here are some ways you can make money as a real estate agent: Listing Agent or Listing Broker The listing agent collaborates with the seller to establish a sales price for the property. They are responsible for gathering the necessary descriptions and images to post on real estate websites. Additionally, listing agents may provide recommendations on improvements that could facilitate the sale. After a listing agreement is signed, the agent posts the property to the real estate agency website and a multiple listing service. Buyer’s Agent Buyer’s agents engage with individuals looking for residential, land, or commercial properties. They attentively consider the buyer’s preferences and requirements. Following this, the agent strives to locate a property that aligns with the buyer’s needs. Additionally, most real estate agents connect buyers with businesses that provide necessary pre-sale inspections, including appraisals and tests for pest infestations, radon, and mold. Key Responsibilities Involved in Real Estate Transactions Agents coordinate appointments with sellers, buyers, and fellow agents. They manage various factors, including previously scheduled showings, homes that require tenant notifications, and even weather conditions. Most agents conduct open houses. Many real estate agents utilize these events for networking, allowing them to connect with a larger pool of potential buyers. Many agents ensure that the buyer is pre-qualified. The buyer approaches a bank or lending institution, submits their financial information, and determines how much money can be borrowed. Agents schedule showings. Often, showings take place after work hours and on weekends. To work in the field, you must be willing to work those hours. The buyer’s representative schedules and coordinates appraisals and inspections. Both agents earn their real estate agent commissions by overseeing the negotiations. They usually work from a “punch list” of sorts, taking care of needed items such as a home appraisal one by one as part of services rendered. The average real estate transaction takes at least one month at a minimum. Contracts are created and signed. Real estate taxes need to be calculated and prorated. Additionally, there are other taxes, filing fees, and attorney fees to consider. The seller is responsible for paying the commission. Both the seller and the buyer should receive an estimate of the closing costs prior to the closing date. The agent for the seller must update the property’s status as a pending sale. The vast majority of successful agents keep track of the flexible real estate market, paying attention to sales and doing market research. There are key differences between the average agents and super successful agents. As with other professions, the person who focuses on networking and building relationships in the community will earn the most money. How much do realtors make each year? After obtaining a real estate license, those new agents to the field most often work for a broker. They will earn a base salary plus a commission. There are several factors – such as the amount of the salary – but how much each person makes depends on how many transactions they negotiate. The statistics about average salary come from the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. The lowest performers may be those who are dabbing in real estate part time as a way to make extra income. They may earn about $20,000 a year. Many real estate agents are high performers who earn $100,000 or more a year. The average real estate agent salary is $44,000. Where do realtors make the most money? Where do the highest earnings come from? This is closely related to the locations where the average home sale prices are the highest, based on labor statistics. Here are the 5 leading states: New York $103,907 Colorado $103,371 South Dakota $101.124 West Virginia $101,068 Washington $100,507 Image: Depositphotos This article, "How Much Money do Real Estate Agents Make?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The “influencer accent” is taking over TikTok. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, scroll through your FYP page and listen. British singer-songwriter Cassyette pointed out this trend in a recent TikTok video, calling out influencers for raising their tone at the end of sentences, almost as if they’re asking a question. In the video, which has been viewed 1.2 million times, she asked: “Guys, serious question, is it just me, or is there this new influencer voice that English influencers specifically use?” Mimicking the voice, she continued: “It sounds like I’m asking you a question, which might be really confusing, but I’m actually not. I’m just going up at the end of every sentence. Like, what is this voice?” American influencers have long been accused of adopting the influencer accent. One influencer, whose video racked up 5.1 million views, posted a clip back in 2023 with the caption, “the cadence of every bland influencer’s morning vlog.” “Gooduh. Morning. Yew. Guise,” she says in a drawn-out tone. However, a more recent video introduced a new variation that just dropped, not so much an accent as a speaking style that combines the traditional influencer voice with specific mouth movements. “It’s like a valley girl accent with vocal fry,” the creator says, “but also enunciating from the bottom of your mouth while mumbling.” Influencing linguistics The “influencer accent” isn’t new; it was around long before TikTok. Linguistic quirks have been emerging on platforms like YouTube and Instagram for over a decade. A few years ago, it was all about the YouTube voice: “Hey guys! Don’t forget to subscribe!” As Rebecca Jennings described for Vox, it was a style marked by “drawn-out dramatics” with a focus on pronunciation and phrasing. Now TikTok’s low barrier to entry has meant there are more influencers than ever, especially female creators. With more people jumping on the influencer bandwagon, “influencer speak” has evolved to the point where it is infiltrating our everyday lives. What exactly is it, though? To the untrained ear, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what defines the influencer accent. It includes ending sentences with a questioning tone, using vocal fry (where speech dips into a low, gravelly register), and uptalk, which involves raising the pitch at the end of sentences as though asking a question. While some may find it annoying, there is a reason behind it. Studies have shown that uptalk successfully grabs our attention, as it implicitly invites the listener to confirm that they are listening. As one creator explains, “Nobody actually talks like that. It’s a form of code-switching that influencers learn on this app because it keeps people watching their videos.” It’s also hardly suprising that everyone on TikTok sounds alike. On social media, conformity tends to be rewarded more than originality. However, if you catch yourself raising the pitch at the end of a sentence, maybe it’s time to take a break from scrolling. View the full article

All of the devices you own and every app running on those devices is eager for your attention, which can make it difficult to actually get anything done— and Windows is no different when it comes to regularly distracting you with pings and pop-ups. Leave the default notification settings in place, and it can get a bit overwhelming. Windows does give you plenty of control over how notifications work, though, including which apps and system events are allowed to bother you and when—there are even various Do Not Disturb options and modes you can take advantage of. Here's how to set Windows 11 notifications up to suit you. Notification settingsTo get started with notification management, head to Settings from the Start menu, then choose System > Notifications. Right away you'll see a Notifications toggle switch: Turn this off and you won't be bothered by any notifications at all. You can also click on the Notifications heading to choose whether or not these alerts come with sounds attached and appear on the lock screen. Further down the same screen you get a list of all the programs installed on your computer, where you can set the notification options for each individual piece of software. If there's an app you don't want to hear from at all, just turn the relevant toggle switch off. Alternatively, you can take more granular control over what each app can do. The notification settings in Windows. Credit: Lifehacker You can choose whether apps can show notification pop-ups, or have their alerts shown in the notification center (which appears when you click on the time and date in the lower right corner). You can also enable or disable sounds for an app's notifications, and choose the priority of its messages in the notification center: Top, High, or Normal. Enable Allow app to send important notifications when do not disturb is on to give the program permission to interrupt you when Do Not Disturb is active (more on that in a moment)—what counts as an "important" notification is down to the developer. Note you can also manage an app's notifications from the notification center, by clicking the three dots on any of its alerts. Do Not Disturb and Focus modesThe familiar Do Not Disturb mode, temporarily blocking notifications, is available on Windows: From the Notifications screen, you can either use the Do not disturb toggle switch to enable or disable it manually, or select Turn on do not disturb automatically, which lets you schedule the feature (and have it turn on automatically if you're gaming). Click Select priority notifications and you're able to take more control over which apps can break through the Do Not Disturb restrictions. By default, reminders and alarms are on, for example, because you probably still want to see these—but you can disable them if needed. Any app can be added here, and all of its notifications will be allowed (not just the important ones, as covered by the setting mentioned earlier). You can set Do Not Disturb to operate on a schedule. Credit: Lifehacker Back on the Notifications screen, you can use the Focus option as an extension of Do Not Disturb: This lets you configure specific sessions of heads-down, notification-free Windows computing, and in addition to applying all the restrictions that Do Not Disturb puts in place, you can also stop badges and flashes appearing from programs on the taskbar. Focus mode will also put a timer on screen, if you want one. To start a Focus session, choose how long you want it to last for, then click Start focus session. You'll notice it's also available in the notification center, where it's easier to access: Click the time and date in the lower right corner, set your timer, then click Focus. Windows opens up the Clock app, which manages the Focus feature, and your session will get underway. Individual appsAs with Android or iOS on your phone, individual apps on Windows are going to come with their own notification settings you can use in addition to the ones available in Windows. For a truly customized notifications regime, you need to dive into the apps you use regularly, and maybe even into alert settings for individual websites. Take Microsoft Edge, for example: Click the three dots (top right) then Settings, then choose Cookies and site permissions and Notifications to see which websites can and can't bother you. By default, sites will ask permission when they want to show notifications, but you can disable this so you're not even interrupted by any requests to display alerts. Accessing site permissions in Microsoft Edge. Credit: Lifehacker And you can dig down even deeper if you'd like to: Plenty of websites have notification settings of their own. There's not the space here to cover every single site out there, but Slack is one of them—if you click your workspace name in the top left corner and then Preferences and Notifications, you can set particular times when Slack isn't allowed to disturb you (independently of the settings in Edge and Windows). The Microsoft Store is another Windows app with its own notification settings to dig into. Click your Microsoft account avatar (at the top), then choose Settings: Turn off the Notifications for app installations toggle switch and you won't be bothered whenever a program is updated through the Microsoft Store. View the full article

Overalls, a workplace productivity platform, has released its 2024 year-in-review report, highlighting the substantial impact of life stressors on employee focus and efficiency. Based on data from over 23,000 employee support requests and more than 250,000 data points, the report quantifies the productivity lost due to personal distractions and how businesses can reclaim lost time. Key Findings: Productivity Disruptions and Time Lost The report identifies common life stressors—such as navigating medical insurance, moving, financial concerns, and travel—that divert employees from work responsibilities. Employees dealing with these stressors lose an average of 2.3 hours per incident, affecting business efficiency. Among the top employee support requests received by Overalls in 2024: Medical & Benefits – 21% Wildcard (miscellaneous life stressors) – 20% Home & Moving – 21% Travel – 11% Finances – 9% On average, Overalls users saved: 3.2 hours on health and well-being tasks 3.2 hours on financial matters 3.3 hours on caregiving responsibilities 2.8 hours on pet care 2.6 hours on navigating employee benefits By addressing these disruptions, businesses can redirect lost time toward operational growth and innovation. Workplace Impact: Addressing Stressors to Improve Efficiency The report underscores that personal stressors are deeply embedded within work hours, with 91% of employee requests occurring on weekdays, peaking between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. This highlights the challenge businesses face in maintaining productivity as employees juggle personal and professional responsibilities. “Life stressors aren’t just personal, in aggregate, they represent a tremendous loss of productivity. Employees juggling life-tasks, such as finding a medical specialist or coordinating a move during the workday, lose hours of focus and productivity,” said Jon Cooper, Founder and CEO of Overalls. Demographic Insights: Stressors Affect All Employees The report also provides insights into how life stressors vary across different employee demographics, reinforcing the need for tailored employer support: Young Families: Medical/Employer Benefits (20%), Wildcard (20%), Home/Moving (21%) Single Parents: Home/Moving (26%), Family (14%), Finances (12%) Singles Without Children: Medical/Employer Benefits (26%), Home/Moving (22%), Wildcard (19%) New Hires: Wildcard (27%), Medical/Employer Benefits (23%), Finances (13%) Image: Envato This article, "Overalls Report Reveals Life Stressors Significantly Reduce Employee Productivity" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. The Jabra Evolve2 65 headphones, which earned an Editors' Choice and an Outstanding rating from PCMag, are currently $203.31 (down from $301). (Note that this is up from yesterday's price of 149.99, their lowest price ever on Amazon, according to price trackers, so the price may go down again. Also, the price seems to be fluctuating slightly depending on location.) Jabra Evolve2 65 UC Wireless Headphones with Link380a $203.31 at Amazon $301.00 Save $97.69 Get Deal Get Deal $203.31 at Amazon $301.00 Save $97.69 They look like a regular pair of on-ear headphones, except for the boom mic—a three-mic MEMS array with a 100Hz to 8kHz frequency response (meaning your voice will sound clear and background noise won’t be an issue) that makes it a solid work headset. Flipping the mic up completely mutes it while bringing it back down unmutes and answers calls. You'll find a three-button control for playback, volume, and call management on the right earcup, which also houses a status LED (or busy light) that glows red when you're on a call. Its 40mm drivers deliver deep bass and crisp highs (with no distortion at max volume) across a 20Hz to 20kHz frequency range. If you like customizing your audio or want more control over your headset, the Jabra Sound+ app lets you adjust EQ settings, disable the busy light, or play white noise to help you tune out distractions. As for noise isolation, it does an OK job, but don’t expect it to completely block out loud street sounds—sirens and honking might still get through. Jabra claims about 37 hours of battery life, but actual mileage will depend on your volume preference and usage. On the connectivity front, this headset works with any VoIP service (is UC-certified) and runs on Bluetooth 5.0, but it only supports SBC, so if you were hoping for AAC or AptX codecs, you're out of luck. That said, it makes up for it with multi-device pairing (it can remember up to eight devices and connect to two at the same time). Plus, you get a USB-A dongle for easy pairing with a computer. Switching between a phone and a computer is mostly seamless—audio pauses on one when a call comes in on the other. However, playback doesn’t always resume automatically, and if you’ve got a music app open on both devices, the headset’s play button can get confused, sometimes toggling between sources instead of stopping the music altogether, as noted in this PCMag review. View the full article

If you’re looking for a business opportunity that is both profitable and has a lot of growth potential, you’ll want to consider starting one of the businesses on this list. These small businesses have the potential to be some of the most profitable businesses in the coming year, and there’s still time to get in on the action. Let’s get started! READ MORE: 20 of the Most Profitable Small Businesses Our Methodology: The Most Profitable Small Businesses When diving into the entrepreneurial world, one of the key attractions is profitability. However, identifying the most profitable small businesses requires a keen understanding of market dynamics, consumer needs, and emerging trends. To assist entrepreneurs in selecting small business ideas that offer the best potential for profitability, we’ve considered a range of factors. These criteria are rated on a scale from 10 (most crucial) to 1 (least crucial), ensuring that our recommendations cater to the practicality, market demand, and financial viability of starting a small business. Market Demand and Growth Potential: Importance 10/10 Current and projected demand for the products or services. Trends and growth potential in the target market. Niche opportunities with less competition. Initial Investment and Startup Costs: Importance 9/10 Required capital to start the business. Costs for equipment, inventory, and initial operations. Feasibility for bootstrapping or low initial investment options. Profit Margins and Revenue Streams: Importance 8/10 Potential for high-profit margins in the business. Diverse revenue streams for financial stability. Break-even analysis and time to profitability. Scalability and Expansion Opportunities: Importance 7/10 Ability to scale the business over time. Expansion opportunities, both geographically and in product/service offerings. Flexibility to adapt and grow with market changes. Operational Complexity and Expertise: Importance 6/10 Required skills and expertise to run the business. Complexity in daily operations and management. Availability of skilled labor or need for specialized training. Online Presence and E-commerce Potential: Importance 6/10 Opportunities for online sales and digital marketing. Potential to leverage social media and online platforms. E-commerce integration and online customer reach. Regulatory and Legal Considerations: Importance 5/10 Compliance with industry regulations and legal requirements. Need for permits, licenses, or certifications. Intellectual property considerations or legal liabilities. Sustainability and Environmental Impact: Importance 4/10 Alignment with sustainable and eco-friendly practices. Demand for green and ethical products/services. Long-term viability considering environmental impact. Identifying the most profitable small businesses involves a balance of these factors, considering what each business can manage, its market, and its unique value propositions. This blend ensures the businesses we recommend have a robust foundation for profitability and success. Most Profitable Small Business Ideas Take a look at these top 25 business opportunities to start this year. Social Media Management If you have an internet connection and are good at social media marketing, then starting a social media management business might be a good option for you. By establishing an excellent social media management business, you can help businesses connect with their customers and grow. This sector is highly in demand and there’s tons of potential for growth and profitability. Cleaning Services Cleaning services is a business that will always be in demand. People are always looking for ways to save time and money, and hiring a cleaning service is a great way to do that. Creating Online Courses If you’re an expert in a particular subject, you can create an online course and sell it to people who want to learn more about that topic. This is a great way to make money while helping others learn. And with low startup costs, there’s plenty of room for profits. Business Consulting Starting a consulting business can be a great way to earn a good income. If you have experience in business, you can help others start and grow their businesses. Graphic Design Services Are you a creative individual? If yes, you can launch a graphic design business to assist companies with their branding and marketing initiatives. The demand is high, and the startup costs are low, resulting in great profitability for skilled designers. Digital Marketing Services One thing that will always be in demand is digital marketing services. As long as businesses want to reach their customers online, there will be a need for digital marketers. App Development If you’re a tech-savvy individual, you can start an app development business. With the right idea, you can create an app that will be a hit with users and earn you a good income. You can also choose to offer app development services to other businesses. Personal Training If you’re passionate about fitness and helping others, becoming a personal trainer might be the perfect business for you. You can start your own personal training business or work for a gym or other fitness facility. It’s even possible to start at home or online to keep startup costs low. Web Development This year, businesses will still need websites, and they’ll need someone to create them. If you have the skills, you can start a web development business and help businesses get online with minimal startup costs. Courier Services If you own a vehicle and are open to doing some driving, starting a courier service could be a great option. This business is ideal for individuals who are organized and possess strong customer service skills. READ MORE: What is a Good Profit Margin for Your Business? More of the Most Profitable Business Ideas As the small business sector continues to grow, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest and most profitable business opportunities. Here are 10 more of the most successful small businesses for you to consider starting. Catering Business Do you love to cook? If so, you can start a catering business. This is a great option for those who want to work from home and have the ability to cook large quantities of food. Real Estate Investing If you’re looking for a passive income business, real estate investing might be a good option for you. You can earn money by owning and renting out residential and commercial properties. It doesn’t require much work and is an opportunity that you can grow over time. Virtual Assistant Services The need for virtual assistants will increase as businesses continue to move online. If you have administrative or customer service experience, you can start a virtual assistant business and help businesses with their online tasks. Online Tutoring Are you an expert in a particular subject? If so, you can start an online tutoring business and help students learn. This is a great option for those who want to work from home, set their own hours, and are good with people. Technology Repair Services As technology becomes more and more prevalent in our lives, the need for technology repair services will also increase. If you’re good with computers and other electronic devices, you can start a business that provides these services. IT Support Today, businesses rely heavily on technology, making it essential for them to have IT support services. If you have a good understanding of computers and networking, you can establish an IT support business to assist companies in maintaining their systems and ensuring they operate smoothly. Freelance Writing Do you have a knack for writing? If so, you can start a freelance writing business. This is a great option for those who want to work from home working on a business they love. Food Truck A food truck is a great option for those who love to cook and have a passion for food. You can start your own food truck business or work for an existing one. It’s also possible to scale this business with multiple locations as your company grows. Property Management If you’re good with people and have experience in the property management field, you can start your own property management business. This is a great way to get into the real estate industry and grow your business over time. Legal Services Also making our list of the most profitable businesses to start this year is a legal services business. If you have experience in the legal field, you can start a business that provides legal services to businesses and individuals, such as wills and trusts, contract reviews, and more. E-Commerce Specialization The surge in online shopping has created a fertile ground for e-commerce businesses, especially those focusing on niche markets. By specializing in specific product categories, such as eco-friendly products, artisan crafts, or specialized tech gadgets, small businesses can cater to particular consumer interests. This specialization allows for targeted marketing strategies and the development of a loyal customer base. Success in this realm involves understanding e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, and supply chain management to effectively reach and serve a global audience. Health and Wellness Services The health and wellness sector offers diverse opportunities, from personal training and nutrition consulting to mental health and wellness coaching. With a growing awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, these services are in high demand. Entrepreneurs can offer these services in person, online, or through hybrid models. This field requires expertise in the respective health and wellness area and a strong emphasis on building client relationships and trust. Innovations in this sector could include personalized wellness plans, online coaching sessions, or wellness workshops. Home Improvement and Repair Services With the real estate market’s evolution, there is an increasing demand for home improvement and repair services. This can range from interior decorating and landscape design to essential home repairs and smart home installations. Small businesses can capitalize on this need by offering reliable, quality services in their local area. Success in this industry depends on skilled craftsmanship, excellent customer service, and the ability to adapt to the latest home improvement trends. Remote Work Solutions As remote work continues to gain popularity, there is an increasing demand for products and services that enhance effective remote working. This includes virtual collaboration tools, ergonomic furniture, and productivity software. Small businesses can thrive by offering innovative solutions that enhance the remote work experience. The key to success here is understanding the challenges of remote work and developing solutions that are both practical and user-friendly. Sustainable Goods and Services Sustainability is more than a trend; it’s a consumer shift towards environmentally friendly products and services. Businesses that offer sustainable alternatives, like biodegradable products, zero-waste goods, or eco-friendly services, tap into a conscious consumer market. This venture requires a commitment to sustainability, knowledge of eco-friendly practices, and the ability to communicate the value of sustainable choices to customers. Businesses could consider offering products made from recycled materials, sustainable lifestyle consulting, or eco-friendly home services. Each of these business ideas holds the potential for profitability and growth this year. The key is to align these ideas with your skills, market needs, and personal interests, ensuring that your business not only succeeds financially but also brings personal fulfillment and makes a positive impact. The Small Business Sector Today The current small business landscape shows that 65% of small business owners reported being profitable, with 51.04% looking to increase staff, according to a poll conducted by Guidant Financial. What’s even more promising is the fact that 41.02% of small businesses are looking to expand or remodel their business. However, 70.73% of small business owners said that trying to hire workers has been more difficult this year versus previous years. This could explain why 63.17% of small business owners have increased worker compensation, with 33% admitting to making significant efforts to keep their current employees. READ MORE: 10 Tips to Help You Start Your Small Business (Even on a Low Budget) What Do You Need to Start a Successful Business? Starting a successful business demands thorough planning and attention to several key factors. In addition to startup costs, here are some other critical elements you should consider: A Solid Business Plan: Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your vision, target market, products or services, marketing strategies, financial projections, and growth plans. Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to understand your industry, competition, and target audience. Identify gaps and opportunities to position your business for success. Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Register your business and obtain all necessary permits and licenses to operate legally. This ensures you stay compliant with local and national regulations. Clear Value Proposition: Clearly articulate what sets your business apart and explain how it fulfills your customers’ needs more effectively than your competitors. Financial Management: Implement effective financial management practices to track income, expenses, and profitability. Create a budget and stick to it. Marketing and Branding: Develop a strong brand identity and marketing strategy to create awareness and attract customers. Customer Focus: Prioritize excellent customer service and build strong relationships with your clients. Skilled Team: Hire talented and dedicated employees who share your vision and contribute to the success of your business. Adaptability: Stay flexible and open to adapting your business strategies based on market feedback and changing conditions. Passion and Determination: Running a successful business requires dedication, hard work, and a genuine passion for what you do. By addressing these crucial elements, you can lay a strong foundation for your business’s success and increase your chances of achieving your entrepreneurial goals. Key Elements for a Successful Business 1. Startup Costs 2. Solid Business Plan 3. Market Research 4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance 5. Clear Value Proposition 6. Financial Management 7. Marketing and Branding 8. Customer Focus 9. Skilled Team 10. Adaptability 11. Passion and Determination What Are the Most Profitable Small Businesses? Owning your own business is a great way to be in control of your income and your future. Many small businesses can be profitable, but some are more so than others. Some of the best small business ideas that can be very profitable include owning and operating a franchise, starting a home-based business, or becoming a consultant. These businesses offer the potential for flexibility, independence, and profitability. So, if you’re ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship, these are three great options to consider. Conclusion As we step into the coming year, the small business landscape is brimming with opportunities for those who are eager to embark on the entrepreneurial journey. This list of 25 small business ideas not only holds the potential for profitability but also reflects the evolving needs and trends of our ever-changing world. The statistics paint a promising picture for small businesses. With 65% of small business owners reporting profitability, it’s clear that success is attainable. However, it’s crucial to acknowledge the challenges they face, such as hiring difficulties. Yet, the fact that 41.02% of small businesses are planning to expand or remodel demonstrates the enduring spirit of entrepreneurship and growth. Now, let’s delve into the small business ideas that hold the promise of profitability this year: Social Media Management: With businesses increasingly relying on social media, starting a social media management business offers a chance to help them connect with customers and grow. Cleaning Services: The demand for cleaning services remains constant, making it a reliable and profitable business. Creating Online Courses: Sharing your expertise by creating online courses can be a lucrative endeavor, benefiting both you and those eager to learn. Business Consulting: Leverage your business experience to help others start and expand their ventures, offering valuable insights and guidance. Graphic Design Services: Tap into your creativity by assisting businesses with branding and marketing through graphic design services. Digital Marketing Services: In a world where businesses continuously strive to reach customers online, digital marketing services will always be in high demand. App Development: If you possess technical skills, an app development business could yield substantial income by creating apps or offering development services to other businesses. Personal Training: Combine your passion for fitness with entrepreneurship by becoming a personal trainer, either independently or with a gym or fitness facility. Web Development: Websites remain essential for businesses, creating a steady demand for web development services. Courier Services: Use your vehicle and organizational skills to establish a courier service, catering to delivery needs. Catering Business: If you love to cook, a catering business offers the chance to work from home and serve delicious meals. Real Estate Investing: If you’re looking for passive income, investing in residential and commercial properties can offer financial stability. Virtual Assistant Services: As businesses move online, the need for virtual assistants continues to grow, providing opportunities for administrative and customer service professionals. Online Tutoring: Offering your knowledge in a particular subject can be both fulfilling and lucrative when engaging in online tutoring. Technology Repair Services: As technology becomes more integrated into our lives, the demand for technology repair services increases. IT Support: With businesses relying heavily on technology, IT support services are crucial for maintaining smooth operations. Freelance Writing: If you have a talent for writing, freelance writing offers flexibility and the chance to work on projects you love. Food Truck: Express your passion for food through a food truck business, delivering culinary delights to your community. Property Management: Leverage your people skills and property management experience to help others in the real estate industry. Legal Services: Providing legal services, such as wills, trusts, and contract reviews, is a valuable contribution to businesses and individuals. E-Commerce Specialization: With the ongoing boom in online shopping, e-commerce businesses that specialize in niche products or services have significant potential. Health and Wellness Services: The health and wellness sector continues to grow, with opportunities ranging from personal training to wellness coaching. Home Improvement and Repair Services: As homeowners continue to invest in their properties, businesses that offer home improvement and repair services are in high demand. Remote Work Solutions: Providing solutions that facilitate remote work, such as virtual collaboration tools or ergonomic home office products, can be highly profitable. Sustainable Goods and Services: Businesses that offer sustainable, eco-friendly products or services align with the increasing consumer preference for green options. To start a successful business, it’s essential to have a solid business plan, conduct thorough market research, ensure legal and regulatory compliance, and offer a clear value proposition. Financial management, effective marketing, excellent customer service, and a skilled team are also crucial. Furthermore, adaptability and a relentless passion for your venture will drive your success. As you navigate the small business landscape, remember that each of these opportunities presents its unique challenges and rewards. Success often stems from your ability to align your skills, interests, and determination with the right business idea. By combining these elements and addressing key factors, you can carve a path toward profitability and fulfillment in the world of entrepreneurship. The small business sector is ripe with possibilities. It’s up to you to seize the moment, turn your aspirations into action, and embark on the journey of building a profitable and rewarding business. Whether you choose to venture into social media management, web development, or any of the other exciting opportunities listed here, the potential for success awaits those who are willing to take the leap into the world of entrepreneurship. Image: Envato Elements This article, "The Most Profitable Small Businesses You Can Start Today" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The pre-Super Bowl hype weeks have begun, and with them comes the annual American tradition of calling the NFL rigged. Local drunks, AM radio sports show hosts, and message board experts are all in agreement: The fix is in. Last year, the most interesting conspiracy theory held that the Pentagon rigged the entire 2024 NFL season so the Chiefs could appear in the Super Bowl and Taylor Swift could help Democrats get re-elected in 2024. (Oops.) This year's football truthers have a less esoteric theory for why the Chiefs are definitely going to win the Super Bowl: Follow the money. They make a compelling case, but they're wrong. Why "they" would fix the Super BowlThe rough consensus among NFL conspiracy theorists is that the National Football League fixed the 2025 season in favor of the Kansas City Chiefs because it makes everyone the most money. If the Chiefs have been blown out in the playoff, the league wouldn't have sold as many Patrick Mahomes jerseys. ABC wouldn't be able to charge as much for the commercials that air during the game. We might not have to listen to Chiefs' coach Andy Reid say "bundle-rooski" so often; online gambling companies would have fewer bettors; the guys who sell hot dogs outside the stadium in New Orleans would sell fewer hot dogs. You get the idea: The Chiefs doing well is good business. Is it even possible to fix an NFL game?It's definitely possible to fix a football game—not like they fix professional wrestling matches, but it could happen, and happen without players, coaches, trainers, and team owners having to agree to a predetermined outcome. You could, theoretically, fix a football game with a handful of crooked referees. NFL football teams are usually roughly evenly matched (especially when we're talking about the Super Bowl) and games are decided by a single decisions from officials regularly. And football's esoteric rules make it easy. Refereeing a football game requires subjective interpretation of vaguely worded text—in order for the ball to be "caught," for instance, the receiver must "performs any act common to the game (e.g., tuck the ball away, extend it forward, take an additional step, turn upfield, or avoid or ward off an opponent)," or "maintain control of the ball long enough to do so." So there's room for interpretation. Officials also decide where the ball is placed after a play, whether a blocker is holding another player, how much pass interference "counts," whether conduct is "unsportsmanlike," and a million other judgement calls. Refs can even arbitrarily award a touchdown in some situations, so you could see how officials could hand a ball game to either team. And it's not like it never happened before. Evidence that the referees are helping Kansas CityHere are a few of the questionable calls in this weekend's very close playoff game between The Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills: Remember that definition of "catch?" This is not an example of one: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. It's an incomplete pass. Or it's an interception. And speaking of the refs deciding where the ball is spotted, in the below clip, The Bills are either just over or just behind the first down line. One ref immediately says first down. The other disagrees. Decision: Chiefs. Even though a close reading shows it was, in fact, a first down. This was the second first down the Bills earned in the same set of downs, by the way. The third down call was BS too: This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. It wasn't just the final game of the playoffs, either. Throughout the season, fans have been pointing out how tackles against Patrick Mahomes are called as "roughing the passer," despite not being particularly rough. Check out this "massive hit" in the Chief's playoff game against the Houston Texans. (Video only available on YouTube.) Note the incredulity in the voices of the commentators and note Mahomes' obvious flop. Here's another flop, just because it's funny: This has been going on all season, too. Over the last nine Chiefs games, they have not been called for a single roughing-the-passer penalty, while opponents have been hit with that costly penalty six times. The case against the NFL rigging football for the ChiefsIt's hard to watch the Chiefs this season and come to any conclusion but "the fix is in." The sheer number of tight games where the Chiefs managed to eke out a last-minute victory, often with the help of a favorable call is evidence enough—11 games in one season that were won with a one-score margin of victory? It sure looks like cheating—unless you're a Chiefs fan. If you're a Chiefs fan, you're seeing the best football team in the world, led by perhaps the best quarterback to ever play, and coached by the best coach since Vince Lombardi. The last-minute, tight victories are evidence of superior clock management: The Chiefs do just enough to win, and they do it like that on purpose. The deluge of roughing-the-passer penalties? Also strategic: Mahomes flops because it's legal and it it works. He's also a running quarterback, so he's going to get hit more often than a more stationary player, and thus draw more penalties. Putting extra importance on events that confirm our biases and ignoring the ones that don't is human nature. Believe it or not, rabid sports fans might not be collectively checking themselves for confirmation bias as rigorously as they should be. How many roughing-the-passer calls are made against other running quarterbacks? Someone is probably keeping track, but fans aren't too interested in a comparative analysis. Always consider the motiveThe idea that the NFL, as an organization, would have the power and clout to fix a football season (assuming they wanted to) seems farfetched enough to dismiss out of hand. NFL teams are owned by different millionaires and billionaires, who likely wield as much power as the league. They would not accept a rigged game (unless it was rigged in their team's favor.) As for the "storyline" argument, I'd be very surprised if the NFL believes that the people who watch football are excited to see the freaking Chiefs win another Super Bowl. I have no evidence except vibes, but if the idea is to produce a compelling narrative, the NFL needs better writers. The Chiefs winning three in a row is a lame story compared to "The always-terrible Washington Commanders, led by a rookie quarterback, manage to win the Super Bowl against all expectations," or even "Holy crap, the Detroit Lions are good this year?" This just leaves the refs. The 2007 cheating scandal that shook the NBA really happened and involved a referee, but it was one referee, and he only fixed the games he was picked to officiate. He wasn't trying to engineer victory for one squad over time. A league-wide conspiracy to support the Chiefs (or any other team) would be way more complex than the NBA chiseler's scheme, and would require many refs, linemen, the mysterious people who review contested calls, and who knows who else to agree to it. Someone would talk. Referees are people, just like usReferees and line judges are as prone to unconscious bias as anyone else. They make mistakes. Could it be that the officials are a little more likely to call penalties that favor the most famous player in the league? Sure, especially since he flops around like a damn soccer player. But are they doing it on purpose? Unlikely. NFL referees work their way up to the league, probably from high school sports, and if they do make the big show, they earn about a quarter million a year, and get to sometimes see Taylor Swift in the stands. It's the kind of job you'd want to keep. Plus, I assume most referees, like most everyone, take pride in doing their job well, and would be unlikely to risk throwing it all away for some short-term gain. As Mike Pereira, the rules analyst for Fox Sports and former head of NFL officiating, recently put it: "The fact that [officials] are looking out for any team or any individual is an absolute myth. You don't want to get fired. You want to be right. People that say that don't know a damn thing about officiating. Until you put the uniform on, until you have to make those quick judgments. ... get off my train. Period." Thankfully, the Super Bowl on Feb. 9 will answer the question of NFL rigging once and for all. If the vastly superior Philadelphia Eagles lose to the overrated Chiefs, we'll all know that the fix is in. View the full article

You likely send dozens of emails each day, but are your messages being well received? Are some of your emails frustrating recipients? You might be violating some fundamental rules of business email etiquette. Our editorial team gets and sends hundreds of emails a day. We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly. So, we’ve come up with email etiquette guidelines that business people should follow for solid email communications. Business Email Etiquette Guidelines Here are some email etiquette guidelines you may wish to consider for your own small business. Get the Salutation and Closing Right Writing effective emails starts with the proper salutation and closing. A Perkbox Insights survey of 1,928 professionals found there is a real preference for certain email greetings and closings versus others. Almost half of those surveyed prefer emails that start with the greeting “Hi”. Other popular greetings include: Good morning/afternoon (48%) Hello (21%) Dear (20%) When it comes to closing expressions for business emails, survey respondents preferred the following: Kind regards (69%) Thanks or thanks again (46%) Regards (31%) Thanks in advance (21%) Best wishes (20%) And what is the worst way to end business emails? “Love”, “Warmly”, and using no sign-off rated the worst ways to close. Don’t Leave People Hanging Confirm receipt for messages you can’t get to right away. Let the sender know that you got it and will respond at a later date. Tell them when to expect it. Set a date and time and stick to it. When you go on vacation or out of the office for more than a day or two, set up an out-of-office reply or away message so people will get a prompt response, ensuring they are not left wondering. Include the date you’ll be back in the office and when you expect to respond. Give people an alternate contact for urgent matters in case they need to reach someone in your company right away. Limit Acronyms and Jargon Before using business abbreviations, acronyms, or jargon in your emails, assess the familiarity and understanding of your audience. Consider the knowledge of the recipient. If you’re dealing with clients in different industries, for example, you might want to include more information than you would with your co-workers. Overusing acronyms can alienate or confuse participants, reducing clarity. Only Use ‘Reply All’ When Necessary When you get emails that include several people, you might be tempted to just reply to everyone. Consider the relevance of your response to all recipients before doing so. But this can lead to a lot of wasted time for recipients if the message isn’t relevant to them. It can be quite embarrassing if your response contains sensitive company information and is sent to a client who is accidentally copied. Consider the necessity and potential impact of your message carefully. Therefore, exercise caution and only use “reply all” when it is truly essential. Use the Undo Send Feature Some email clients like Gmail have a feature that allows you to undo sending an email for up to 30 seconds. This gives you a brief window to reconsider or rectify any mistakes that can cast a long shadow if you breach email etiquette. If you forgot to check for typos or an attachment, or if you have second thoughts about the content or tone of your message, act quickly, and you can cancel sending the email before it arrives at the other end, preventing potential misunderstandings or the need for follow-up explanations. Utilize this feature wisely to ensure your communications are accurate and convey the intended message. Wait 24 Hours Before Sending Emotional Messages If you find yourself inclined to send an angry or emotional email, take a moment to carefully craft your message. Consider the potential consequences of your words. Refrain from hitting send until you have taken a day to step back and clear your mind. This pause allows for a calmer perspective. Work-related emails should be devoid of negative emotion. It’s painful for others to receive emotional words, and it can lead to unintended consequences. Avoid Using All Caps Don’t go crazy with the CAPS LOCK, as 67% of people can’t tolerate it, according to the survey. This type of message is perceived as shouting, which is often unwelcome. Always use sentence case. Capital letters can emphasize your message, but they may be perceived as shouting, which can alienate your audience instead of engaging them. Instead, think about using italics or color to highlight key points in a way that is more inviting and less overwhelming for readers. Keep it Short About 29% of individuals report that they cannot tolerate lengthy emails. Do you really want to risk losing nearly a third of your readers due to the size of your message? It’s important to respect the time of your team and business associates. Utilize short paragraphs and formatting techniques like bullet points to make your emails easier to skim. Instead of a long email, try an alternative: a video call, face-to-face meeting, or phone call. If it has to be in writing, create a separate report in an attachment or shared cloud document. A Clear Subject Line is a Must Subject lines should accurately reflect the content. A clear subject line is a courtesy that informs the recipient what to expect before opening your message. More than that, it may make the difference between people opening your email or ignoring it, ensuring your communication is timely and effective. An ambiguous subject can delay response times. Don’t Share Confidential Information Emails are all too easy to forward and share or to accidentally send to the wrong person, making them a risky choice for sensitive content. Most email messages are not the right format to share confidential information as they lack the security measures necessary to protect such data, underscoring the importance of using secure, encrypted channels for sensitive exchanges. Use Humor with Caution You might be tempted to add a little fun or humor to your emails. But without body language, humor and tone can be difficult to decipher in emails, potentially leading to misunderstandings or offense. Never include jokes in your emails unless you have a strong rapport with the recipient and are confident they will appreciate the humor. This way, you can ensure that your intent is clearly understood. Limit Emoji and Emoticons When it comes to emojis, smileys, and emoticons, keep those to conversations with friends and close co-workers where the context and relationships support their use. Customers and sales prospects may see them as unprofessional or too casual for business communications, potentially undermining your message’s seriousness or professionalism. Don’t Be Hasty with Reminders Give a recipient a day or two to respond, depending on the type of inquiry. A recipient may feel chastised by getting a reminder when he or she has been out of the office or in meetings all day. Also, before sending reminders, please check your junk or spam folder. Put yourself in the recipient’s shoes. Has anyone ever complained they did not receive one of your messages, forcing you to go out of your way to re-send it, only to then reply, “Oh, it was in my spam folder?” You probably felt slightly annoyed, thinking, “Why didn’t you look there in the first place?” Be Careful with BCC BCC stands for blind carbon copy and it means that others do not see the blind-copied person on the recipient list. BCC is good etiquette if you want to inform other people in your organization and protect their name, title, or email address from going to, say, a sales rep for an outside vendor. But BCC can be bad etiquette if your purpose is to be devious and go behind a coworker’s back. How will you feel if your coworker learns that his boss was blind copied? If it could upset him, then don’t use it. Add a Personal Message When Forwarding When you need to forward an email to a coworker, add an introduction at the top instead of just hitting send. This personal touch can clarify the relevance and ensure the recipient understands the context. Don’t force associates to read through an unfamiliar email thread without context. Also, consider changing the subject line title so it makes more sense and directly relates to the current discussion or task at hand. Add the Email Address Last If you’re drafting a brand new email, start with the subject and content before adding email addresses. This will prevent you from accidentally sending it too early and having to waste everyone’s time telling them to ignore your incomplete message. Have a Clear Call to Action What do you want the recipient to do with your message if anything? If it’s purely to inform the other person, then so state. But if you expect a reply, a decision, or another thing, be crystal clear. It’s amazing how many emails are vague about what the recipient is being asked to do (or not do). Include Contact Information Twenty-three percent of email users say it is poor etiquette to not have an email signature block. A professional email signature with relevant information doesn’t just make you look more professional; it also makes it easier for the person you’re contacting. Include relevant information like your phone number, company website, and social media handles so they can easily reach out if they have extra questions. If your email includes specific instructions for a person to call you or contact you in another way, include those details in the body as well. Stick to Black and White Some individuals try to add some pizazz to their emails with unique colors, fonts, or design elements. But this can rub some recipients the wrong way. And the styles that appeal to you may make it less appealing to others. Avoid using unique font colors and background patterns in your emails. Classic black and white is the easiest to read. And pair it with basic fonts like Times New Roman. This can help you make a professional impression, whether you’re communicating with employees or partners. . Limit Exclamation Points Some use exclamation marks to show excitement or convey friendliness. However, they should be used sparingly in professional email. In fact, 16% say this punctuation mark is unacceptable, while 48% will tolerate only one per email. Keep in mind the tone of the email. For example, an email announcing exciting new products or services may accommodate more than an email about an employee communication issue. And then read through it at the end to double check that it’s not packed full of excess excitement. Proofread You don’t want to take the time to craft a great email message only to have it littered with spelling and grammar mistakes. Take a minute to proofread and spell-check before sending so you can catch any potential errors. Look for both spelling and grammatical issues. Additionally, read through your message with a mind on how your recipient will read it. Think about the tone to make sure it doesn’t get taken in a different way. Then go back and make sure that you spelled the person’s name correctly in your email. You can’t be too careful in this instance. Also choose the proper email address — it’s embarrassing to send to the wrong email accounts. Know When to Be Formal Keep things more formal with those you’re emailing for the first time. Err on the side of being more formal and professional with clients and superiors as well. Formality shows respect and is less likely to be misinterpreted. Once you get to know someone more, you can get less formal. For instance, you might use first names or a nickname instead of full names. Or you could shorten your greeting or sign off with those you communicate with regularly. Don’t Forget to Attach It’s quite common to mention that you are attaching a file and then forget to include it. This oversight not only makes you appear forgetful but also requires the recipient to follow up with a reminder. Therefore, be sure to double-check before hitting send. Additionally, name your attachments appropriately if there are several. This allows them to avoid opening each one to see what it is. And it can even help them avoid opening attachments with viruses or malware. If possible, send PDFs instead of files that require a specific program so they don’t need to download extras to see what you’ve sent. Consider Different Cultures and Languages When corresponding via email with individuals from diverse cultures or backgrounds, it’s important to keep this in mind while crafting your responses to avoid causing offense or confusion. For example, use simple, widely recognized terms instead of American-centered slang. If you regularly communicate with teams or recipients in a particular country, research info about that culture to get even more specific and avoid miscommunication. Start a New Email Chain for New Subjects When emailing someone who you correspond with frequently, it can be tempting to keep just one chain going continuously. But this can make it difficult to keep your conversations organized. So start a new chain for each new subject. Along the same lines, only forward messages when absolutely necessary. Avoid hitting reply all when you only need to message one or two recipients on an email chain. GuidelinesDos/Dont'sAdditional Info Salutation and Closing- Use appropriate greetings and closings. - Avoid inappropriate greetings or closings.Survey preferences: "Hi", "Good morning/afternoon", etc. Confirm Receipt and Out-of-Office- Confirm receipt and specify response timeframe. - Set out-of-office replies during vacations.Provide date of return and alternate contact during OOO. Limit Acronyms and Jargon- Use clear language. - Avoid excessive acronyms and jargon.Adapt language based on recipient's industry knowledge. Only Use 'Reply All' When Necessary- Be cautious with "reply all." - Avoid sending irrelevant emails to everyone.Prevent wasted time and potential embarrassment. Use the Undo Send Feature- Act quickly to undo sent emails for corrections.Available in some email clients like Gmail. Wait 24 Hours Before Sending Emotional Messages- Avoid sending emotional emails immediately.Maintain a professional tone in work-related emails. What are the dos and don’ts of business email? Dos: Do keep business correspondence professional. Do compose emails that respect people’s time. Do stick to the subject matter and get to the point. Don’ts: Don’t overuse emojis or exclamation points. Don’t use slang with clients or business associates you don’t know well. Don’t use emotional words. Don’t use sarcasm, and be careful with humor and tone so that you don’t inadvertently offend when you send an email. What are the benefits of email etiquette? There are five advantages to adopting email etiquette rules: Professionalism. Improved company image. Better response to sales messages. Organizational efficiency and time savings. Lower workplace liability by avoiding improper tone or misinterpretation. DosDon'ts Keep business correspondence professional.Overuse emojis or exclamation points. Compose emails that respect people's time.Use slang with clients or unfamiliar associates. Stick to the subject matter and get to the point.Use emotional words. Use sarcasm, offensive humor, or unclear tone. More etiquette tips: Office Etiquette Tips Online Meeting Etiquette Image: Depositphotos This article, "Email Etiquette Tips for Professional Communication" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Illinois lawyer Mathew Kerbis markets himself as the Subscription Attorney, charging businesses and individual clients a monthly rate for legal advice and offering additional services like contract review and legal document drafting for a flat fee. Kerbis is a fairly tech-savvy lawyer—he’s a regular at the American Bar Association’s ABA Techshow conference, he hosts a podcast about subscription-based billing and other industry innovations, and he uses a Stripe-integrated web portal to streamline client payments. So it’s not surprising that he’s spent time experimenting with AI tools to help him do legal research, draft documents, and otherwise assist clients more efficiently. “The faster I can get something to a client, if you think about it in terms of time equals money, the more money I make,” he says. “But also, the more valuable it is to the clients to actually get things faster.” Today, Kerbis is a customer of Paxton AI, a legal AI provider that boasts it can help lawyers quickly draft legal documents, analyze everything from contracts to court filings, and conduct research on legal questions based on up-to-date laws and court precedent. He says Paxton can help tweak model contracts for a client’s situation, find relevant sections of law for a particular legal issue, and review proposed agreements for potentially troublesome terms. Doing the work of a young attorney—at superhuman speed “If a client books a call with me and gives me a contract right there on the phone with them, we could start identifying problematic issues before I’ve even put human eyes on the contract,” Kerbis says. Paxton, a startup that just announced a $22 million Series A funding round, is one of a number of companies offering AI-powered assistance to lawyers. Its competitors range from established legal data vendors like LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters to other startups, all looking to use the text-processing power of large language model AI to more speedily parse, analyze, and draft the voluminous and precise documents that are inherent to the practice of law—and part of the reason for lawyers’ notoriously long hours. “The idea is to do the work of, say, a young assistant or even a young attorney at a firm, but to do it at superhuman speed,” says Jake Heller, head of product for CoCounsel, a legal AI tool from Thomson Reuters. “If you talk to lawyers, I think there’s a universal feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things they want to do for the companies they work for, their clients, their law firms.” [Screenshot: courtesy of Paxton] A 2024 study by legal tech provider Clio found that 79% of legal professionals already use artificial intelligence tools to some degree. Roughly 25% “have adopted AI widely or universally,” according to the survey. Clio CTO Jonathan Watson says Clio Duo AI is the fastest-growing product in the company’s history; it helps lawyers answer questions about particular documents, schedule meetings, and even analyze data from the company’s law firm management software—all of which allows them to focus more on legal work and less on rote tasks. “What we ultimately want to do is free them of that burden, so they can get back to doing what they do best, and that’s practicing law,” Watson says. Putting AI through law school And while lawyers’ misuse of AI has sometimes generated headlines when they’ve submitted court filings with hallucinated quotes and citations, legal AI providers generally say they’ve built their software with guardrails to reduce such errors—as well as protections for attorney-client confidentiality—and linked their language models to specialized legal knowledge bases. “In order to be a proper legal assistant, you need legal training,” says Paxton AI cofounder and CEO Tanguy Chau. “And what that means to us is a complete understanding of all the laws, rules, regulations, statutes that govern the legal practice.” Paxton AI has used a large language model to help analyze court decisions and document how they reference each other in a network graph structure, says cofounder and CTO Michael Ulin. “We have the LLM make a determination as to whether it’s been upheld or overturned,” he says, something that was historically done by human attorneys updating legal reference books and databases. Those sorts of materials are, in fact, part of what helps power CoCounsel, with Heller pointing to a company history of publishing legal information and references dating back to the founding of lawbook giant West Publishing—now part of Thomson Reuters—in the 1800s. “They’ve hired some of the best attorneys in the country and said, ‘Well, give us your commentary or thoughts on this topic,’” Heller says, with that material now accessible to the AI. “It’s able to also do what a lawyer would do, which is draw from these resources, read them first, get a deep understanding of a topic or field from the world’s best experts that really only we have, and then that informs its decision-making process.” Lowering the risk of hallucination Legal AI tools generally use the technique known as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), in which search-engine-like processes first locate relevant source materials, then provide them to language models to use in providing a well-cited, on-point response with less risk of hallucination. “Even several years ago, it was very clear that the retrieval—you know, the R element to the RAG—was the most important part of this whole process, being able to properly identify what cases are responsive. Not just cases, but legislation, regulation,” says Mark Doble, cofounder and CEO of Alexi, which offers legal AI with a focus on litigation. “And so we’ve done a ton of work in making sure that the retrieval component is really good.” Alexi has also developed rigorous automated and manual systems to verify its AI consistently and statistically predictably gives accurate responses, Doble says. Similarly, CoCounsel is routinely quizzed on tens of thousands of test cases, Heller says, and Paxton has published to GitHub its AI’s results on two legal AI benchmarks, including one developed by scholars at Stanford and Yale as part of a study of legal hallucinations by LLMs, where Paxton claims a nearly 94% accuracy rate. [Screenshot: courtesy of Paxton] Still, even the most rigorously tested AI systems aren’t immune to making mistakes. RAG-powered systems can still hallucinate, particularly if the underlying retrieval process produces irrelevant or misleading hits, something familiar to anyone who has read the AI summaries that now top many internet search results. “From the perspective of general AI research, we know that RAG can reduce the hallucination rate, but it is no silver bullet,” says Daniel E. Ho, a professor at Stanford Law School. Ho is one of the authors of the legal hallucination study and an additional paper looking specifically at errors made by legal-focused AI. In one example, Ho and his colleagues found that a RAG-powered legal AI system asked to identify notable opinions written by “Judge Luther A. Wilgarten” (a fictitious jurist with the notable initials L.A.W.) pointed to a case called Luther v. Locke. It was presumably the result of a routine false-positive search result based on the made-up judge’s first name. While a human lawyer searching a decision database would have realized the mix-up and quickly skipped past that search result, the AI was apparently unable to note that the case was decided by a differently named judge. “It would not surprise any lawyer who’s spent time trying to research cases that there are going to be false positives in those retrieved results,” Ho says. “And when those form the basis of the generated statement through RAG, that’s when hallucinations can result.” Even so, Ho says, the tools can still be useful in legal research, drafting, and other tasks, provided they’re not treated as out-and-out replacements for human lawyers and, ideally, with AI developers providing information about how they’re built and how they perform. [Screenshot: courtesy of Paxton] “The lawyer is fully responsible for the work on behalf of the client” Since lawyers are already used to picking apart documents, arguments, and citations, as well as double-checking the work of junior associates and paralegals, they may be as well equipped as any professional to use AI as a helpful tool—the first or last pair of eyes on a document, or a path to finding case law relevant to a particular question—rather than an omniscient oracle. “This is something you’re asking to infer how to respond to you, and you need to look at that with a critical eye and go, does that make sense?” says Clio’s Watson. As some attorneys using general-purpose AI tools have learned the hard way, groups like the American Bar Association have said relying on AI doesn’t absolve lawyers of their basic duties to competently represent their clients, safeguard their confidentiality, and ensure what they present in court is accurate and truthful. “In short, regardless of the level of review the lawyer selects, the lawyer is fully responsible for the work on behalf of the client,” according to a formal American Bar Association opinion from July. Experts have suggested that lawyers who rely on mistaken AI-generated information could be sued by clients for malpractice. Even law-focused AI solutions often disclaim legal responsibility for errors, meaning lawyers are likely on the hook for any AI mistakes they fail to catch. Kerbis says he uses Paxton AI to find on-point sections of the law, but he’ll still read the actual cited references. And when he asks the AI to find potential red flags in a contract, he’ll naturally evaluate them himself. Other Paxton customers use the tool to look for the relevant “needle in a haystack” in bulky document repositories, like medical records involved in an injury suit, Ulin says. Since AI can work so quickly, and its findings can often be quickly verified by human attorneys, there may be little reason not to at least see what it can find. Kerbis says the AI sometimes flags a section of a contract that’s ultimately unobjectionable, like an unusually long contract term that actually benefits his client, but such findings are easy enough to skip past. Since Kerbis generally charges clients flat fees instead of an hourly rate, it’s to his advantage if he can do good legal work faster. Some experts predict such arrangements will be more common if AI helps more lawyers work more quickly, though previous predictions of the end of the billable hour have proven premature. Also yet to be determined is whether AI-forward lawyers and law firms will ultimately prefer to get AI tools through an existing vendor like Thomson Reuters or Clio, or from an AI-focused startup like Alexi or Paxton. And it remains to be seen whether the technology will really provide lawyers the level of productivity boost proponents and AI vendors hope for. If it does, it may well become as necessary to the modern practice of law as Microsoft Word. Already, some of those paying the bills and waiting on legal advice have begun to urge lawyers to adopt AI, says Doble, adding, “It’s not clients getting angry when lawyers use AI tools. It’s clients getting angry when lawyers don’t use AI tools.” View the full article

Welcome to Pressing Questions, Fast Company’s work-life advice column. Every week, deputy editor Kathleen Davis, host of The New Way We Work podcast, will answer the biggest and most pressing workplace questions. Q: How can I get more sleep? A: I am writing this at 11:12 p.m., so this advice is as much for myself as it is for anyone else. Here’s what we should all be doing differently: First, set a schedule and stick to it. The “stick to it” part is hard. But it’s called the golden rule of sleep for a reason. Set a bedtime, and then plan at least 20-40 minutes back from that time to start your bedtime routine. You might even need an alarm to remind you that it’s time to end what you’re doing. So, if you have to get up at 7 a.m. and you want to get seven hours of sleep, you want to be asleep by midnight. That means you should start your bedtime routine by 11:30 p.m.. And speaking of bedtime routine, you know you can’t go directly from staring at a screen to lights out, right? Your mind needs to wind down. Sleep experts recommend that you not only stick to the same bedtime every night, but that you also stick to the same (or similar) process each night. One option is to take things in 15-20 minute stages. First, prep for the next day (pack lunches, set out clothes) and do your nightly hygiene routine. Then spend 20 minutes doing a relaxing activity like reading. Whatever you do, don’t sleep with your phone next to you. The other golden piece of sleep advice is intuitive but many of us with desk jobs skip it: Do some kind of physical activity during the day—but not right before bed. If you spend 30-40 minutes a day being active, you will be more physically tired and it will be easier to fall asleep. Want more advice on how to get more sleep? Here you go: Ultimate guide to getting more sleep 5 ways to get a better night’s sleep Having trouble sleeping? Ask yourself these 6 questions View the full article

A lawn care business is an excellent way to become an entrepreneur and be your own boss. Homeowners are multitasking more and more and they need these services. Small businesses always want to make a great first impression with a well-manicured lawn. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about how to start a lawn care business, from equipment selection to initial planning and marketing, plus customer retention. The Basics of a Lawn Care Business The lawn care industry is thriving. It has experienced significant growth and outpaced the overall economy. Lawns typically require ongoing maintenance, and there are cross-selling opportunities such as pest control. If you want to know how to start a lawn care business, this is an encouraging environment. What is a Lawn Care Business? A lawn care business does several things, like regular grass cutting. Other services include control and fertilization plus pest and disease control, to name a few. The potential clients include residential homeowners and commercial properties. Recreational facilities, schools, and hospitals can also be clients. Why Lawn Care Services Are Essential Lawn care services play a pivotal role in enhancing outdoor spaces’ aesthetic appeal and health. A well-maintained lawn not only boosts the overall visual appeal of a property but also provides various environmental and health benefits. Lawns act as natural filters, capturing dust, smoke particles, and other pollutants to provide cleaner air. Additionally, they help prevent soil erosion, reduce noise pollution, and even increase a property’s value. Engaging in regular lawn care ensures that these green spaces remain vibrant, healthy, and beneficial for both the environment and the residents of the property. Aesthetic Appeal: A well-maintained lawn beautifies the surroundings and creates a pleasant outdoor environment. Environmental Benefits: Lawns serve as carbon sinks by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, which contributes to cleaner air. Soil Protection: Healthy grass roots hold the soil together, preventing erosion and runoff, especially during heavy rains. Noise Reduction: Lawns can significantly reduce noise pollution by absorbing and deflecting sounds. Property Value: A beautifully maintained lawn can increase a property’s market value and curb appeal. Recreation and Well-being: Green, well-kept lawns provide spaces for recreational activities and have been shown to reduce stress and promote well-being. Temperature Regulation: Lawns can act as natural coolants, reducing the surrounding temperature and minimizing the heat island effect in urban areas. Habitat for Wildlife: Healthy lawns can provide habitats for various small creatures and support local biodiversity. Steps to Launch Your Own Lawn Care Business Following are the steps for how to start a business and offer lawn care services to your community. Evaluating Your Market: Commercial vs. Residential Lawn Care You need to know the differences between serving residential and commercial clients. Residential properties tend to be smaller and easier to maintain. In contrast, commercial clients typically require additional services, such as an irrigation system and more frequent visits. The contracts vary as well. Residential clients may prefer seasonal or one-time services, whereas commercial clients typically seek longer-term agreements. Drafting a Business Plan A business plan offers financial projections and background information. These can help you define your objectives and attract investors like banks and potential partners. Components include: The executive summary. The business description. Marketing strategy and analysis The services and products. A competitive analysis Financial projections. Business plans can help you get funding and create a marketing roadmap. Choosing a Business Structure You have several common business structures to choose from. The sole proprietor is easy to set up, and you have full control over the business. Personal liability is one of the downsides. A partnership has more potential for resources. It can be difficult to transfer ownership with these. A limited liability company has a flexible management structure and pass-through taxation. However, having a few members means tax complications. A Corporation has strong liability protections in place. The con here is complex regulations and legal requirements. Securing Financing Here’s a list of some of the financing options available. Bootstrapping Bootstrapping can entail contributions from family and personal savings used to start a business. Venture Capital These companies invest in startups with good potential and ask for equity in exchange. You get access to investors with experience. Bank Loans These usually have strict credit criteria. Small Business Administration Loans These government-backed loans have longer repayment times. Crowdfunding Kickstarter serves as an example of a platform that allows individuals to raise funds from a wide audience. However, managing these campaigns can be time-consuming. Designing an Effective Lawn Care Website Websites are a cost-effective way to get global exposure. A carefully designed site is available 24/7. A successful website features strong branding with consistent messaging and logos. Begin by researching the best landscaping business name ideas and choose one that aligns with your services. Next, acquire a matching domain. The design should be user-friendly across tablets, mobile devices, and desktops. Make sure it is optimized for SEO, and refer to this website startup guide for additional tips. Creating a Unique Brand Identity for Your Lawn Care Company Good branding for your company increases exposure. A good logo is simple and clean. Establish clear guidelines on consistency as to where and how it gets used. Colors make a big difference. They need to meet accessibility standards. Using at least one primary color in the logo for any lawn care business is a good idea. Include a mission statement as the driving force behind your branding. It should be concise and clear. Securing Essential Lawn Care Equipment Of course, you need landscaping tools and equipment to get started. A Lawn Mower and Other Tools Smaller lawns only need a walk-behind lawn mower unit. Bigger commercial properties might require a riding mower. Keeping lawns in good shape means having professional edgers and trimmers. A good blower will clean up debris like leaves and grass clippings. Working with bushes and trees means getting a pair of pruning shears. Don’t forget personal safety equipment like glasses and gloves and ear protection. Buying Or Renting Lawn care companies must decide whether buying or renting is the best choice. Buying the equipment means you’ll have it whenever you need it. However, there is a significant investment at first. Renting usually has maintenance included. However, there are no assets to sell later on. FactorBuying EquipmentRenting Equipment Initial CostHigh upfront costs to purchase machinery and tools outright.Lower initial costs, only paying for the duration of use. Maintenance & RepairsOwner is responsible for all maintenance and repair costs.Maintenance and repairs typically covered by the rental company. DepreciationEquipment will depreciate in value over time.No concerns about depreciation as equipment is returned after use. FlexibilityEquipment is available at any time for business operations.Flexibility to rent specific tools as needed for specialized jobs. Long-term CostsMight be cheaper in the long run if equipment is used regularly and maintained well.Can become expensive if renting frequently or for extended periods. StorageNeed dedicated space to store equipment when not in use.No storage concerns, as equipment is returned after use. Equipment UpdatesUpdating or upgrading requires selling old equipment and purchasing new.Easier to access the latest equipment models as needed. Asset OwnershipEquipment becomes a business asset and can be sold later.No ownership; therefore, no asset to sell or leverage in the future. Tax ImplicationsPotential tax benefits from depreciation or capital write-offs.Renting expenses can be written off as a business expense. Cash Flow ImpactSignificant initial expenditure can impact cash flow.Spread out costs can be easier on cash flow, especially for startups. Pricing and Service Packages Good lawn care businesses offer basic, standard, and premium packages that give customers a choice. Legal and Licensing Considerations Consider the following: A Business License allows you to operate in your city or county. A Landscaper Contractor License may be required if you plan on doing landscaping work. Some areas will need a Water Use Permit. General Liability Insurance covers your business in the event of property damage or personal injury. There can be other requirements, too, depending on the scope of your business. Hiring and Training Consider hiring extra staff during peak demand seasons in the spring and summer. Be sure to train them in proper safety procedures for equipment. Social media and industry-specific websites are good recruitment channels to start with. Developing a Service Menu A service list might look like this. Lawn Mowing and Fertilization Weed Control Insect and Pest Control Lawn Aeration For each of these and others, you should highlight the convenience of the service and your expertise. Explain the benefits of other features like flower bed maintenance and mulching. ServiceDescriptionFrequencyAverage DurationPrice Range* Lawn MowingCutting grass to a specified height. Often includes trimming edges near walkways, driveways, and other structures.Weekly/Bi-weekly30 min - 2 hrs$30 - $100 FertilizationApplying fertilizers to promote healthy grass growth and prevent weeds.Seasonally30 min - 1 hr$40 - $100 Weed ControlUsing herbicides or manual methods to reduce or eliminate weeds from the lawn.As needed30 min - 2 hrs$50 - $150 AerationPuncturing the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate to the grassroots.Annually1 - 3 hrs$70 - $200 DethatchingRemoving thick layer of roots, stems, and debris that can build up on a lawn's surface.Annually/As needed1 - 3 hrs$100 - $300 Pest ControlApplying treatments to deter or eradicate common lawn pests like grubs, ants, and more.As needed30 min - 2 hrs$50 - $150 OverseedingPlanting grass seeds directly into existing turf to improve density or introduce a new grass variety.Seasonally/As needed1 - 2 hrs$100 - $300 Landscaping & DesignPlanning and creating aesthetic features, including planting beds, walkways, water features, etc.One-timeVaries greatly$500+ Leaf RemovalClearing leaves from the lawn during the fall season or as needed.Seasonally1 - 3 hrs$50 - $200 Irrigation MaintenanceChecking and maintaining sprinkler systems to ensure proper water distribution.Annually/As needed1 - 2 hrs$70 - $200 Obtaining Licenses and Permits Licenses and permits can vary depending on the state you’re in. There are some general ones you should look into, like: A Business License This allows you to operate in a legal manner in your jurisdiction. Sales Tax Permit You might need one to remit and collect sales tax. Zoning Permits Your business needs to comply with local zoning requirements. Look into Lawn Care Business Insurance There are several types of insurance that fall under the small business insurance category, including general liability insurance. This type of insurance protects your business against third-party claims for damage and bodily injury. Additionally, if you employ workers, lawn care businesses are required to have Workmen’s Compensation insurance. Property insurance is important to protect your inventory and equipment. Building a Client Contract Make sure to add in the contract details, like additional charges for special services and the frequency of visits. Be specific about the services, like weed control and mowing. Implementing a Booking and Scheduling System A digital system streamlines appointments and provides real-time updates. Formulating an Environmentally Friendly Approach Remember, environmentally conscious clients are looking for sustainable practices. Reduce the need for chemical treatments and water consumption. Networking and Building Industry Relationships Establishing local connections builds trust. Gaining knowledge from others in the industry helps you to stay updated. Safety Protocols and Equipment Maintenance Detailed records of equipment inspections, repairs, and maintenance are important. Regular safety meetings to review procedures are critical. Setting Up a Business Bank Account Separate personal and business finances for tax purposes. Supply an employee identification number (EIN) for the IRS. Effective Marketing for Your Lawn Care Business So what is marketing for a lawn care service? Effective strategies include both online and offline elements. For example: Advertise in local newspapers. Network at business events. Create a professional website showcasing your services. Google ads and Facebook ads work, too. Building a Loyal Clientele Retaining clients is about effective communication and consistent quality service. Offer seasonal maintenance plans and loyalty programs. Continuous Learning and Upgrading Staying on top of industry trends will help your company to grow. You’ll learn about environmental regulations as well as new techniques and equipment. Consider joining a professional organization. How Much Does it Cost to Start a Lawn Care Business? Generally, a start-up costs between $1,450 and $2,500. A basic mower ranges from $200 to $400. Hand tools such as a shovel and rake can cost as much as $400. Marketing can cost you between $200 and $500 for advertisements and flyers. Other costs include business licensing or registration and your vehicle. What is the Profit Margin for a Successful Lawn Care Business? A one-man operation can have profit margins of around 15 to 20%. The higher overhead costs and additional labor mean bigger businesses have a lower margin of around 10 to 12%. What Challenges May a Lawn Care Business Owner Face? A lawn care company operates in an industry that might seem straightforward on the surface but can be fraught with numerous challenges, including the following: Unpredictable Weather Patterns: Weather affects grass growth pest activity and can delay scheduled jobs. Increased Competition: A surge in new startups and other competitors can make it challenging to secure clients and differentiate services. Fluctuating Fuel Prices: Any rise in fuel costs directly influences the operating costs, especially for companies with heavy machinery and transportation requirements. Labor Issues: Finding, training, and keeping skilled workers can be difficult because of the job’s physical demands and its seasonal nature. Staying Updated: Keeping up with the latest in landscaping techniques, eco-friendly practices, and local regulations requires continuous learning and adaptation. Tips from Lawn Care Professionals: Ensuring Success in Your Business Here’s some advice gathered from budding entrepreneurs. Stay updated on different regulations and best practices. Get the information you need from industry publications and conferences. Be willing to adjust your business strategy as the market changes. https://youtube.com/watch?v=LxdA_5M7TRQ%3Fsi%3D4mJ8XctdPKT_4CvE FAQ: Starting a Lawn Mowing Business Is a Lawn Care Service a Good Business to Start? Yes, starting a landscaping business can lead to a consistent income, and you have the opportunity to expand your operations over time. Is Lawn Mowing Business a Good Side Hustle? This is a good side hustle because there are low start-up costs. Use the post above as a business startup checklist. Is it Essential to Have a Background in Horticulture to be a Lawn Care Professional? It’s not an essential qualification, but this expertise gives you in-depth knowledge of soils and landscaping. Which State has the Longest Lawn Mowing Season? Florida has the longest mowing season. It can extend through most of the year. How can Seasonal downtime be handled in the Lawn Care industry? Adding on off-season services like snow removal or holiday light installation can help. You might also look into other types of businesses with a year-round model. For example, research how to start a handyman business. Image: Envato Elements This article, "How to Start a Lawn Care Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been largely avoided by lawmakers, influencers, and the public. Among them: What is the future of insurance when people’s homes are increasingly located in areas of climate risk—whether wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, or the rising sea levels? Those questions have bedeviled policy makers in California—where insurance giants like State Farm, Farmers, and Allstate announced last year that they were no longer writing new policies in the state due to the surge in wildfires (in 2024 alone, firefighters across the state battled 8,024 wildfires that burned more than 1 million acres and destroyed 2,148 houses and other structures). Insurers have long been aware of the risk of climate change—rising premiums, increasing losses. In 1973, the German insurance firm Munich Re published a brochure on flooding that it claims was the first use of the term “climate change” in the industry, warning of the growing risk of rising temperatures and increased carbon dioxide in the air. Some 40 years later, the CEO of French insurance giant AXA said it would be impossible to insure a world that is 4 degrees Celsius (7.2 Fahrenheit) warmer. Nonetheless, insurance companies have become some of the biggest financiers of fossil fuels, which are the primary cause of climate change—the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal are responsible for over 75% of greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of carbon dioxide emissions. Fossil fuel companies made up 4.4% of the investment portfolio of the insurance industry in 2023, up from 3.8% nine years earlier. Two insurance giants, Berkshire Hathaway and State Farm, increased their fossil fuel positions by around $200 billion in that period. Overall, however, more than half of the country’s 238 property and casualty insurers recently surveyed by the Wall Street Journal have reduced their investments in oil, gas, and coal over the past decade. But while insurers around the world have restricted their coverage of fossil fuel projects, U.S. companies continue to write policies for conventional oil and gas projects. Spokespersons for State Farm and Berkshire Hathaway did not respond to requests for comment. It’s a vicious cycle, some insurance industry experts say, with insurers investing their customers’ premiums in fossil fuel companies, whose activities accelerate climate change, which in turn increases the risk of the wildfires, super storms, and flooding that are causing insurers to drop coverage for millions of homeowners in order to avoid losses. “That’s a significant amount of capital that is supporting polluting industries,” said Frances Sawyer, the founder of Pleiades Strategy, which works to stimulate climate action. “That hasn’t been as much of a focus as it should be in their total structural risk—fossil fuel investments that are directly making the risk environment worse that they’re handling on the other side of the balance books.” By the numbers, climate change is having an enormous impact on the industry. The insured weather losses attributable to climate change have increased from 31% to 38% in the last decade, an annual increase that “significantly outpaced” the growth of losses in other sectors. Overall, about $600 billion in such losses over the last two decades can be attributed to climate change, according to a report by Insure Our Future, a global consortium of groups pushing insurance companies to stop investing in fossil fuels. For many insurers, the losses are not being offset by the premiums they collect from their coverage of fossil fuel companies. For more than half of the 28 leading insurance companies, their estimated losses due to climate change exceeded their fossil fuel premiums. Overall, climate-attributed losses for all 28 insurers totaled $10.6 billion, erasing most of the $11.3 billion they collected in premiums from fossil fuel companies. As a result, insurers have now dropped more than 1.9 million home insurance contracts since 2018, with nonrenewal notices tripling in more than 200 counties across the country, according to a recent congressional investigation. The burden falls heaviest on lower-income Americans and people of color. About 15% of the country’s homeowners who earn less than $50,000 a year are uninsured, according to the Consumer Federation of America. And 14% of Latino and 11% of Black homeowners are uninsured. Increasingly, more Americans are underinsured, making it likely that the full cost of reconstructing a house won’t be reimbursed. A University of Colorado Boulder study on the 2021 Marshall Fire, the worst in that state’s history, revealed that 74% of affected homeowners were underinsured. Among them was Erica Solove, a mother of two who was forced to flee their family home barefoot when it was destroyed in the Marshall Fire. Because her policy reflected the valuation of her home when she bought it years ago, it wasn’t nearly enough to help build a new home. She had to rely on savings and a GoFundMe campaign to finish reconstruction. When she tried to get homeowners insurance for that home, “We were rejected by all of them,” she said. “The insurance companies are not being held responsible for not insuring people to any reasonable level reflecting the current reality,” said Solove, who started the group Extreme Weather Survivors, and recently started an online Slack community for California wildfire survivors. “It’s not an individual problem, it’s a systemic industry problem.” And the cost of homeowner insurance has skyrocketed, jumping more than 30% between 2020 and 2023 (13% adjusted for inflation), according to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research. That dynamic has increased pressure on insurers to shun the fossil fuel industry—both by no longer providing coverage to oil, gas, and coal projects and by no longer investing in the industry. “Insurers’ self-reinforcing cycle of driving climate risks higher and restricting coverage for those risks is threatening public interest and financial stability,” warned Insure Our Future. Some insurance giants are taking steps—Italy’s largest insurer, Generali, announced in October 2024 that it will no longer provide new coverage for oil and gas companies in the midstream and downstream sectors, which includes liquefied natural gas terminals and gas-fired power plants. But U.S. insurers in general continue to back the industry, and they have played a prominent role in the liquefied natural gas boom along the Gulf Coast. All of the senior lenders for the giant Rio Grande LNG terminal in Texas were insurance companies—Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance (F&G), Everlake Life Insurance, American General Life Insurance, Security Life of Denver Insurance, Symetra Life Insurance, and Allianz Life Insurance of North America—according to an SEC filing by the developer, NextDecade. Spokespersons for the companies did not return requests for comment. That role was highlighted in an industry publication, Insurance Asset Risk, which noted that “despite seemingly making progress towards net-zero goals, insurers seem to be taking on a role previously occupied by banks in financing fossil fuel projects.” In recent years, some insurance regulators have pushed for more transparency from the industry and warned it of the danger of investments that contribute to climate change. The insurance commissioners of California, Oregon, and Washington did a first-ever stress test of insurance company investments last year to detail the “hidden cost” of delaying climate action. In addition to exacerbating the climate crisis, such investments could be risky for insurance companies’ bottom line as the world moves to a clean-energy future, making it harder for them to write policies going forward. The three insurance commissioners warned in their report: “Insurance companies invest premiums that they collect from people and businesses, generating returns that enable them to pay future claims, meaning the performance of investment income can have a direct impact on a company’s ability to take on additional policies down the line.” According to the insurance commissioners’ findings, insurers face greater exposure to climate risk in their corporate bond portfolios than in their equity investments. Their future losses on corporate bonds could range from $7 billion to $40 billion, per the analysis. Because homeowners insurance is required for most home loans, some economists are concerned that the insurance crisis could reignite a mortgage crisis on a scale of the 2008-2009 recession. “Rising premiums and limited availability of insurance can have significant ripple effects across housing markets, reducing demand (and housing values) for homes in high-risk areas,” according to a new Brookings Institute study. “Any wide-scale decline in property values” would present “a systemic risk to the U.S. economy similar to what occurred during the 2007-2009 mortgage meltdown and ensuing global financial crisis,” the Senate Budget Committee warned in a December 2024 report. “It has a sort of this chilling effect where if insurance companies are announcing that they’re no longer writing policies in entire neighborhoods or entire communities or in some cases even entire states, that has implications for whether you’re going to be able to sell your home because the mortgage market won’t be available,” said Jordan Haedtler, climate finance strategist with advocacy group the Climate Cabinet. The crisis has prompted most states to develop an insurer-of-last-resort program, available to those who can’t get coverage from private insurance companies. But they are at risk of being overwhelmed. California’s FAIR Plan, which has only $200 million in reserves and $2.5 billion in reinsurance, has exposure of $5.9 billion from homeowners policies in Pacific Palisades alone, where the number of policyholders grew by 85% from last year. As California’s former insurance commissioner Dave Jones told Capital & Main, provisions in the FAIR Plan leave homeowners across the state on the hook for losses if the government plan is exhausted. Moving forward to address this crisis may take some dramatic steps, say experts. Publicly funded climate risk insurance, such as the FAIR Plan, don’t adequately address the problem since they would “face many of the same challenges as the private market in terms of managing rising costs and increasing climate risk exposure, plus the added complexity of political pressure to keep premiums artificially low,” according to the Brookings report. The think tank recommends that state regulators develop initiatives to make more advanced catastrophe modeling tools available to insurers and incentivize them to offer discounts to policy holders for taking steps to make their homes more resilient by installing wind-resistant roofing, fire-resistant siding and hail-resistant shingles. Unfortunately, insurers aren’t on board yet in California. Last year, Jones worked with state Sen. Josh Becker and the Nature Conservancy on a bill that would have required the models used by insurers to account for risk mitigation efforts such as forest treatment, creating defensible space around homes and home hardening. “The insurance industry killed it,” Jones said. “They killed the bill through lobbying and donations to lawmakers. They basically went in front of the insurance committee of the Senate and the Appropriations Committee of the Assembly and, and said, ’We’re opposed to this,’ and convinced those two committees to gut the bill.” What’s key is addressing the role of climate change, said Sawyer. “We’ve got to think about how we’re reducing climate pollution and continuing and accelerating California’s commitment to emissions reduction and investments in resilience,” she emphasized. “The last thing we need is solutions that try and treat this as a temporary financial crisis without reaching down to those roots and really thinking about the [insurance] sector’s role in decarbonization and making us safer across the board.” This piece was originally published by Capital & Main, which reports from California on economic, political, and social issues. View the full article

Last fall, Will Ferrell sang an homage to PayPal to the tune of Fleetwood Mac’s classic “Everywhere.” The payments platform was making a big swing with the comedy legend for its biggest-ever U.S. ad campaign. It was also the first major piece of work under PayPal chief marketing officer Geoff Seeley, who joined the company in February 2024. The campaign was created with agency BBH, with an assist from Publicis Groupe creative shop Le Truc. But there was another partner holding influence over the brand strategy, all behind the scenes. The Intangibles—which some might call the Avengers of marketing—is a marketing powerhouse that has largely operated in the shadows until now. Founded in 2022, The Intangibles is a unique consultancy in a marketing industry littered with consulting options. Led by founder and CEO Ben Richards, founding partner Jon Wilkins, and chair Judy Smith, the firm is now launching publicly. It’s made up of executive talent that focuses exclusively on intangible assets like brand, innovation, IP, customer experience, reputation, and culture—all oft-overlooked yet critical areas that drive long-term value. Richards is the former global chief strategy officer of Ogilvy, where he led a team of 1,500 strategists across 83 countries for nearly a decade. Wilkins was most recently the global chief strategy officer of Accenture Song, one of the world’s largest agencies. The two met in the early 2000s at legendary strategy firm Naked, where Wilkins was one of the three global founders. Smith is also CEO of strategic advisory firm Smith & Company, the former deputy press secretary to President George H.W. Bush, a veteran of crisis management, and the real-life inspiration behind the hit ABC series Scandal. From left: Judy Smith, Chair, Jon Wilkins, Founding Partner, Ben Richards, Founder & CEO. Richards says that intangible assets are seen as the dark matter of the business world. “In reality, they’re very real, they’re very measurable, and I think they’re the future of business,” he says. “So we started thinking about the kind of company that could advise on how to grow tangible value from intangible assets.” “Tribrid” model A decade ago, marketing and advertising was in the midst of a tug-of-war between major consultancies and ad agency holding companies. Deloitte alone had acquired more than a dozen creative agencies, while Ad Age named Accenture Interactive (now Accenture Song) the largest and fastest-growing digital agency network every year between 2015 and 2021. Agencies, meanwhile, were shifting their own strategies to better compete. R/GA, for example, set up a business transformation practice in 2012. The relationship between consultancies and agency partners for brands is still a shifting landscape between competition and collaboration, but Richards says he and Wilkins saw an opportunity for a very specific type of consultant, with a particular approach. “It’s a ‘tribrid’ firm that combines the rigor of a management consultancy, the creativity of Madison Ave, and the value creation mindset of private equity, that we thought would be the best at unlocking tangible value for intangible assets,” says Richards. Take the PayPal example. When PayPal named Alex Chriss its new CEO in September 2023, Seeley was less than a year into the job. PayPal was looking to shift its positioning quickly and significantly from a payments platform to a broader fintech company. “We were brought in to help them engineer a new way to bring the brand to life in North America,” Richards says of The Intangibles’s partnership with the company. Seeley says the firm has been invaluable in providing high-level consulting on the overall brand strategy, given the breadth of their experience in particular with marketing and marketing transformation. “I need people around me who have been there and done it right,” says Seeley. “They’ve played the snakes and ladders of marketing for a long time, and they know more about the ladders, and they know where the snakes are.” PayPal’s Seeley says the work his company has done with The Intangibles has complemented his other agency partners. “It’s not competitive, because the services that they provide aren’t tangible things like making an ad or buying media,” he says. “It’s sitting with my VPs of marketing, or my heads of growth, and consulting with them over ‘Hey, when we did this at like this big company that I was at, this is where we found some goodness.’ So it’s more senior client whispering than it is agency services.” Elite experience The “tribrid” model is combined with what Richards called a “naked” style of communication and transparency: solid advice, plainly told. In a time when CMOs are asked to do more with less, and always faster, it’s easy to see why a resource like this could be helpful. Executing on this promise is easier when consultants are seen more as peers than hired help. The firm has talent with experience in the upper echelons of the industry, as opposed to a few senior leaders backed by an army of junior talent. So far, Intangibles works with about 30 people across New York, London, and San Francisco. At the partner level, the company’s roster includes former Global CMO of Disney Studios MT Carney, former Goodby, Silverstein & Partners’ Chief Strategy Officer Gareth Key, former Global CMO Lufthansa Alex Schlaubitz, former Global CMO of Bill Gates-backed C16 Biosciences Margaret Rimsky, and former Global CEO of Ogilvy PR Stuart Smith. So far, the company has done work with PayPal, Venmo, YouTube, and Kenvue (owners of Tylenol, Neutrogena, and Band-Aid), as well as a handful of private equity firms. Essentially, the company has assembled an on-call SWAT team of marketing, creative, strategy, and communications for the executive suite. Wilkins describes it as a hybrid model of senior talent within the company, and then tapping into their collective Rolodex to tailor teams to a client’s particular needs. “We’ve got traditional employees, but we’ve also got this fantastic network of folks who are on speed dial,” says Wilkins. “So this really surgical application, this Avengers-style team, bringing together genuinely the best people in the world for a particular mission has worked really well.” View the full article

Until recently, if you threw away an old mattress in Amsterdam, it would likely end up in an incinerator—the same way that most of the 15 million-plus mattresses thrown out in the U.S. each year end up in landfills. Now, however, around half of Dutch mattresses are recycled, and that number is growing. Some of the material is starting to be used in new mattresses, sofas, and other furniture by manufacturers like IKEA. [Photo: IKEA] In one facility near Amsterdam, a company called RetourMatras uses automated equipment to dismantle old beds, beginning with a machine called a peeler that cuts off the mattress cover so the fabric can be recycled. Then the core is separated into materials like polyurethane foam, latex foam, and metal springs, depending on what’s inside a particular product. More than 80% of a typical mattress can be recycled. In another corner of the facility, the company has pioneered a process to turn polyurethane foam into the chemical building blocks for making new foam that can be used in furniture. [Photo: Ikea] In the past, shredded foam could only be “downcycled” into a lower-quality material for products like carpet backing. Now, if you buy an Extorp sofa or Poäng chair from IKEA in Europe—or a new mattress—it will likely contain foam partially made with chemicals that RetourMatras recycled from old mattresses. The investment arm of Ingka Group, IKEA’s largest retailer, first invested in the recycling startup in 2019 to help it scale up. The aim was to help with IKEA’s own circularity goals. “We would like to recycle as many mattresses as IKEA puts on the market globally,” says Alberic Pater, who manages business development at Ingka Investments. (Last year, the company sold more than 11 million mattresses.) At the time of the first investment, there was almost no recycling capacity in the region, Pater says. “Incineration or landfill was still commonplace, because the cost was far cheaper than recycling,” he says. Cost is still a challenge, though RetourMatras says that automation is helping—along with the fact that the company can now produce higher-quality materials for use in new furniture. The recycling company now has three facilities in the Netherlands, along with three facilities in the U.K. and one in France. In total, it has the capacity to recycle 2.5 million mattresses in a year; last year, it handled 1.6 million. So far, only the location outside of Amsterdam has the new tech. But another new investment from IKEA will help the startup grow. This month, the furniture giant announced that it planned to invest more than $1 billion in recycling infrastructure, including an unspecified amount in RetourMatras. (The recycler hasn’t yet announced any plans to expand to the U.S., and so far, there aren’t any other American recycling companies with the same type of foam-to-foam recycling technology.) At the same time, IKEA’s product designers are working on making mattresses more recyclable. For example, many of its mattresses now have covers made from 100% recycled polyester, which can be recycled again. The covers also have zippers, so they’re easier to remove. “It’s extremely easy just to unzip the cover, take out the foam, and let the cover go in a different recycling stream,” says Johan Kroon, a product developer for Inter IKEA. (Because they’re removable and washable, it also makes it more likely that consumers will keep the mattresses longer, which can cut the environmental footprint of the product even more.) The company’s product design team is working on multiple projects related to mattress recyclability, including making it easier to separate the materials inside. Other companies are also innovating in the space. Royal Auping, a Dutch company that has made mattresses since 1890, designed a fully circular mattress in 2020. Called Evolve, it’s made from only two materials—PET, the material used in plastic water bottles—and steel springs. A specially-designed adhesive makes it possible to separate the materials with heat instead of energy-intensive shredding. PET is also easier to recycle than foam. The design has fewer than half of the components of a typical mattress, but is as comfortable, the company says, with better ventilation than a foam mattress. RetourMatras says that mattress brands can tour its facilities to better understand how to design for recyclability. It will take time to see the benefits. “We’re dismantling mattresses from 10 years ago,” says Chico van Hemert, managing director at RetourMatras. “If we change something now, we’ll benefit in 10 years.” Meanwhile, IKEA’s product developers are also figuring out how to use the new recycled foam. Right now, it only makes up a small percentage of the total material in the company’s products; one IKEA mattress sold in the Netherlands, for example, uses 10% recycled polyol, the main building block for making foam. That percentage can increase as the supply of recycled material keeps growing and costs come down. “The biggest challenge is to get more mattresses,” says Pater. IKEA collects old mattresses at its stores, but governments need the right policies to collect mattresses at a large scale. Several European countries now have “extended producer responsibility” laws that require mattress retailers to figure out how to get old mattresses back for recycling. The U.S. lags behind, but four states also have similar laws. “We need more markets, more countries, to implement the right legislation,” he says. View the full article

The iconic Louvre in Paris is no stranger to crowds. Since first opening in 1793, the museum has played host to millions of guests and undergone dozens of expansions and renovations to accommodate them. Today, though, overtourism has brought the historic site to a breaking point. In a typical year, the Louvre is prepared to accommodate 4 million visitors. But in 2024, almost 9 million people—70% of them originating from outside of France—passed through its doors. “Visiting the Louvre is a physical ordeal,” museum director Laurence des Cars wrote in a widely publicized leaked memo. Now the Louvre will now undergo a massive renovation to address overcrowding and expand its viewing capacity to 12 million annual visitors, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced. The ambitious project includes opening a new entrance on the Seine river, and dedicating a stand-alone room to house the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, to give the famed Italian Renaissance painting some breathing room. A timeless attraction with an outdated structure The Louvre’s proposed redesign follows a slew of critiques from des Cars and years of wear and tear to the museum’s architectural structure, which has been exacerbated by growing crowds. There isn’t room for visitors to take a break, according to des Cars, who also assessed the museum’s food and restroom facilities as “insufficient in volume.” She added in her memo that some areas of the museum are prone to leaks, while others experience wide temperature variations, potentially impacting the preservation of the artwork within. The Louvre’s signage needs to be redesigned as well, des Cars asserted. [Photo: Antoine Boureau/Hans Lucas/AFP/Getty Images] The Louvre currently has only one entrance—the iconic glass pyramid by architect I.M. Pei, opened in 1989. Overcrowding of the throughway in recent years has led to both a greenhouse-like heating effect and unpleasant sound amplification. A similar issue has plagued staffers guarding the Mona Lisa. According to des Cars, around 20,000 people pack into the room housing the famous painting each day, resulting in massive lines and far-from-ideal viewing conditions (if you can even get close enough to catch a glimpse). “I’m leaving in a state of extreme fatigue and I’ve vowed never to visit again,” one loyal local visitor told The Guardian. “The noise is so unbearable under the glass pyramid; it’s like a public swimming pool. Even with a timed ticket, there’s an hour to wait outside. I can’t do it anymore. Museums are supposed to be fun, but it’s no fun anymore.” A design solution to overcrowding At a speech delivered in front of the Mona Lisa on Tuesday, Macron introduced a plan to bring the fun back to the Louvre. In short: improve the flow of foot traffic throughout the space in order to prevent major backups. To start, Macron announced, the renovation will include a new grand entrance at the Colonnade de Perrault on the museum’s western side near the Seine, finally adding an additional pathway for guests to enter the building, and relieving crowding at the pyramid entrance. The Louvre will hold a competition to choose the firm responsible for the addition, which is slated to open in 2031. Several underground rooms will be added to boost exhibition space. And the museum will relocate its pièce de résistance—the Mona Lisa—to its own dedicated room. That room will require a separate access pass and be “independently accessible compared to the rest of the museum,” Macron said. In response to the issue of overtourism, the museum will also institute higher prices for foreign travelers. Starting on January 1, 2026, Macron announced, all guests from outside the EU will be required to pay a higher entrance fee. These renovations come as other popular destinations like Spain, Greece, Italy, and Germany have all begun implementing taxes for foreign visitors as a means of dealing with rampant overtourism. It’s only a matter of time before additional landmarks will need to consider designs specifically created to manage the effects of overcrowding. View the full article

Invoice factoring allows businesses to boost their cash flow. Businesses sell unpaid invoices to a third party or factoring business at a discounted rate, and these companies supply immediate payments to small businesses. This is a way for businesses to avoid challenges like delayed payments and waiting for clients to pay invoices within agreed credit terms. They can use the money for payroll, inventory and other operational expenses. What is Invoice Factoring? Invoice factoring is different from invoice financing. Here are the differences between factoring and invoice financing. Invoice factoring takes place when a business sells its invoices to a factoring company. This company then handles the collection of payments and provides an advance payment of approximately 70 to 90 percent. Invoice financing involves a small business using invoices as collateral to get advances from a lending institution. In this situation, the small business needs to collect the money. For invoice factoring, there’s an advance rate, and that’s the amount the company pays to the original business upfront. The discount rate or factoring fee is the money the factoring company charges. When a small business needs to back up any invoices the factoring company can’t collect, it’s called recourse factoring. When a factoring company assumes almost all the risk for non-payment, it’s called non-recourse factoring. Invoice factoring and financing have obvious differences and applications. How Does Invoice Factoring Work? Here’s how invoice factoring works in steps. Choosing a factoring company should include looking at advanced rates and factoring fees. Look to see what industries the company specializes in and if the factoring is without or with recourse. When a small business applies to a factoring company, it must supply financial documents about its customers and invoices. Everyone involved must agree on the terms and then approve the application. After that, an agreement is signed. Businesses can electronically submit the invoices they wish to factor. It’s important to remember that factoring companies assess the risk of non-payment, as well as the value of the invoices. Once they verify all the information, a percentage of the invoices get delivered within 24 to 48 hours Once the factoring business takes over, it collects payment from the initial business customers. When the customer pays, the company subtracts the advance amount given to the business. StepDescription Choosing a Factoring Company- Consideration of advance rates and factoring fees. - Evaluation of the industries the company specializes in. - Decision on recourse vs. non-recourse factoring. Application Process- Submission of financial documents related to customers and invoices. - Agreement on terms between the small business and the factoring company. - Approval of the application followed by signing an agreement. Invoice Submission- Invoices can be submitted electronically. - Factoring companies assess the risk of non-payment and the value of the invoices. Funding- Upon verification, a percentage of the invoice value is delivered to the business, typically within 24 to 48 hours. Collection and Settlement- The factoring company takes over the collection process from the business's customers. - When the customer pays, the factoring company subtracts the advance amount (plus fees) given to the business and remits the balance. The Role of a Factoring Company Invoice factoring companies purchase outstanding invoices, providing immediate financial assistance to the small businesses that issue them. This relationship extends beyond mere financing; it offers a comprehensive cash flow solution. Businesses receive a substantial percentage of their invoices in advance, which is a major benefit for small enterprises seeking immediate and consistent cash flow without the delays associated with traditional payment terms. A factoring company pays the business and subsequently collects on the invoice. Application and Approval Process Before approving businesses for financing, an invoice factoring company will evaluate them based on the following criteria: The creditworthiness of the business’s clients is the most significant consideration. These companies look at payment history and financial stability. Factoring businesses specialize in specific industries, including wholesale, transportation and manufacturing. These companies look at the submitted invoices to ensure they’re free from possible legal disputes and likely to get paid without any hassles. Businesses must supply documentation with a list of their client’s financial statements, invoices, and tax ID numbers. Receiving Advances and Fees Structure This process is helpful for businesses that have long invoice payment terms but need cash. Businesses issue invoices to customers and sell them to a factoring business. That company verifies the invoice details and provides an advanced payment. The customer pays for the factoring business. Once the customer pays, they send the balance to the business and subtract their fee. Factoring companies usually advance up to 90% of an invoice upfront. The specific rate depends on the number of invoices and the industry. Quite often, factoring fees range from 0.5% to 5%. Here’s an invoice factoring example. A manufacturing company invoices a retailer for $10,000 with a 60-day payment term. The company then sells the invoice at an 80% advance rate. The manufacturing company gets an advance of $8,000. The retailer pays the factoring business the entire $10,000 on the 60th day. They charge 3% of $10,000, which amounts to $300. At the conclusion of the transaction, the manufacturer receives a total of $9,700. This includes the $8,000 advance along with the remaining $2,000, after deducting the $300 fee. The factoring company disburses that amount. Benefits of Invoice Factoring for Small Businesses Invoice factoring offers a range of benefits that can be particularly advantageous for small businesses seeking flexible and immediate financial solutions. These benefits include: Immediate Access to Capital: Factoring allows businesses to convert outstanding invoices into immediate cash, providing a more predictable cash flow. This is especially beneficial for covering short-term expenses or capitalizing on timely opportunities. Non-Debt Financing: One of the key advantages of invoice factoring is that it doesn’t add to a company’s debt obligations. This aspect helps in keeping the balance sheet healthier. Unlike traditional loans that require repayment (with interest), factoring simply involves selling your invoices at a discount, thus not incurring debt. No Collateral Required: Traditional financing often requires collateral, but invoice factoring does not. This can be a significant advantage for businesses that may not have the necessary assets to secure a loan. Time and Resource Savings: Outsourcing the management of accounts receivable to a factoring company can free up significant time and resources for business owners. This time can be better spent focusing on core business activities, such as sales, product development, and customer service. Credit Analysis and Risk Management: Factoring companies typically conduct credit checks on your clients before agreeing to purchase your invoices. This can provide valuable insights into the creditworthiness of potential and existing customers. By highlighting the reputation and payment history of your customers, factoring companies help you manage and mitigate credit risk more effectively. Flexible Financing Option: Invoice factoring provides a flexible financing option that can scale with your business’s sales volume. As your business grows and you invoice more, you can factor in more invoices to access more capital, in contrast to a fixed loan amount. Improved Financial Management: With faster access to cash, businesses can improve their financial management, meeting obligations on time and taking advantage of early payment discounts from suppliers. Enhanced Business Focus: By alleviating the burden of chasing down payments, businesses can refocus their efforts on strategic growth initiatives rather than being bogged down by financial constraints and administrative tasks related to accounts receivable management. These advantages make invoice factoring an attractive option for small businesses in need of a cash flow solution. However, it’s essential to carefully consider the specific terms and conditions offered by factoring companies, as well as the potential impact on customer relationships, to ensure it aligns with your business objectives and values. Invoice Factoring Cost There are several fees and costs to consider when deciding to use this financial option, including the following: Factor Rates: This refers to the percentage of the invoice that the invoice factoring company provides to the business in advance. Typically, these rates fall between 70% and 95%. Service Fees: The company charges this cost for its services. It usually ranges from 0.5% to 5%. Some companies use a tiered fee structure. You need to be careful and watch out for that because these fees can increase the longer any invoice is not paid. Additional Fees: Ensure you understand any service charges and set-up fees the company charges. Remember that if a factoring business needs to check your customer’s credit, that cost can be passed on to you. What to Look for in Invoice Factoring Companies A partnership with a factoring business needs to check some of the following boxes. The company needs to have experience and a transparent fee structure. Outstanding customer service and flexible factoring terms are essential. Reviews and testimonials about the company’s reputation can help you decide. Additional services like account management tools and reporting features should be looked at. Take a good look at the platforms and technology the company uses. It should be user-friendly for submitting invoices and tracking payments. Risks and Considerations of Factoring Invoices Invoice factoring, while beneficial for enhancing cash flow, especially for small businesses in need of immediate financial liquidity, comes with its own set of risks and considerations. It’s important to weigh these factors carefully to make an informed decision: Dependency Risks: Relying heavily on invoice factoring companies can be precarious for small businesses. These companies might: Alter their fee structures unexpectedly, leading to higher costs. Change the terms of the agreement, potentially putting your business in a challenging position. Cost Considerations: Factoring fees may be considerably greater than those associated with traditional financing options, like bank loans or lines of credit. This difference can affect long-term financial sustainability. The cumulative cost over time, considering these fees, might outweigh the immediate benefits of improved cash flow. Loss of Control: Entrusting your accounts receivable to a factoring company means relinquishing some degree of control over them. This can influence: The manner in which invoices are managed and collected. The relationship with your clients, as the factoring company’s approach to collecting payments, may differ from yours, potentially affecting client satisfaction and trust. Impact on Business Relationships: The interaction between your clients and the factoring company can affect your business’s reputation. If the factoring company employs aggressive collection tactics, it could strain your relationships with clients. Confidentiality Concerns: Sharing sensitive financial information with a third party involves a level of risk. Ensuring that the factoring company respects confidentiality and has robust data protection measures is crucial. Contractual Obligations: Some factoring agreements might include long-term commitments or clauses that are not favorable to your business, such as minimum volume requirements or penalties for early termination of the contract. Possible Impact on Future Financing: Relying on invoice factoring can influence your business’s ability to secure other types of small business financing options. Lenders may view the use of factoring as a sign of financial instability. Carefully evaluating these risks and considerations is essential before proceeding with invoice factoring. It may also be beneficial to explore alternative financing options and compare them against the potential costs and implications of factoring to ensure it aligns with your business’s long-term goals and financial health. https://youtube.com/watch?v=VU3zSmdOuyg%3Fsi%3DSrd21LTyqzQ-3iXC FAQs: Invoice Factoring Here are some answers to questions small business owners ask. What types of businesses can benefit from invoice factoring? Wholesale, manufacturing, and transportation businesses can benefit. Plus, any others that have long payment cycles. How does invoice factoring affect relationships with clients? Involving a third party can put a temporary kink in payment practices and direct communication with a business and its clients. What happens to unpaid invoices in a factoring agreement? Under a non-recourse agreement, the factoring company assumes the risk associated with unpaid invoices. In contrast, with a recourse agreement, alternative arrangements must be established, or the company is required to repurchase the outstanding amounts. How can invoice factoring improve a small business’s cash flow? A small business can get immediate access to a big part of the money that gets tied up in unpaid invoices. How does a factoring company make money? They charge clients a fee, usually a percentage of the invoice value. Read More: What is an invoice? How to create an invoice Image: Envato Elements This article, "What is Invoice Factoring and How Does it Work?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When famous and powerful people open up about their autism experiences, it often gets attention. One example is Bill Gates sharing an excerpt from his upcoming memoir, Source Code: My Beginnings. In it, he writes that “if I were growing up today, I probably would be diagnosed on the autism spectrum.” But although this caused some struggles, he also notes: “I wouldn’t trade the brain I was given for anything.” For many in the autistic community, this visibility can feel like a win. Seeing a successful person identifying as autistic can inspire hope and serve as a reminder: An autistic brain is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, there is much to celebrate. But these high-profile disclosures also bring mixed feelings. Along with the celebration comes a concern about autism and success narratives, who benefits from them, and who is harmed by them. The ‘Autistic Genius’ Stereotype and the Superpower Narrative Popular narratives often frame autistic people in extreme ways. We are either geniuses (albeit often misunderstood) destined to revolutionize industries, or tragic figures, defined solely by our struggles. When someone influential comes out as autistic, the story often focuses on their “unstoppable neurodivergent brilliance”—their extraordinary talents, creative thinking, “superhuman” persistence, or unique approach to problem-solving. It feeds into the neurodivergent superpowers narrative. This might seem like a major improvement over the “broken and deficient” stereotypes, yet it can also be a trap. Innovative talents and the humans who exhibit them are worth celebrating. Yet a powerful mental image of “a genius” risks obscuring the broader, more nuanced picture of autistic experiences, and creating stereotypes that might be positive—yet still have negative effects on other autistic people. Research indicates that once we categorize something, cognitive schemas and stereotypes guide our memory and perceptions. This means we are “stuck” in the oversimplification. Challenging and broadening narratives—in this case, understanding the wide range of autistic experiences—becomes difficult. One of the more obvious consequences of the “tech genius” stereotype is pushing people toward tech careers that may or may not align with their calling, while restricting opportunities in fields that don’t align with that stereotype. Another problem with the fascination with “autistic genius” is the risk of perpetuating the perception that autistic people’s value is conditional on having extraordinary abilities. It reinforces a hierarchy of worth, where only the most “useful” or “exceptional” are deemed valuable. For many autistic people, this narrative creates an implicit expectation to keep proving our value—a burden that can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and exclusion or result in a burnout. The risk of burnout also stems from the expectation that autistic people “deliver” above and beyond in environments where we lack support. Moreover, “wealthy genius” narratives can obscure the disproportionate economic challenges faced by the majority of autistic people. Policies and programs focused solely on “tapping into autistic potential” may miss the mark when it comes to meeting foundational needs like housing, transportation, or healthcare, and protection from blatant workplace discrimination. Everyday Realities of Working While Autistic In his writing, Gates acknowledges both his luck and his privilege. And I am happy to celebrate his story. But there are so many other stories. Untold, and unheard. Most autistic people face complex and painful challenges in their careers and in their lives. In addition to extremely high unemployment, even those who work are held back by poverty, inaccessible environments, and the lack of understanding from their employers. Their stories are far less glamorous, but they’re just as important. They reflect the lives of the majority of autistic people—the ones who don’t make headlines. Here are a few stories from my book, The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work, to provide a broader perspective on the autistic experience at work. In that experience, ability and high performance are often not enough. Working as a HR systems analyst in the U.K., Charlie Hart often received positive feedback about her productivity (“eats workload for breakfast”) and the quality of her work (“meticulous attention to detail”), yet she never got anything above “achieved” in her performance reviews. She was striving for the “exceed expectations” rating though, and asked the HR director what she needed to do to get it. Well, she needed to be a different person. Charlie was assigned to an interpersonal skills coaching, which was de facto a neurodivergent masking and “passing for a neurotypical” coaching—exacerbating years of trauma and pushing her into depression for months. Burnett Grant, a highly experienced Black, autistic lab technician from the U.S., was advised by their supervisor “to get on disability benefits and clean houses for extra money under the table.” Burnett was a high performer and didn’t ask for advice, which leaves little explanation for this unsolicited guidance other than stereotyping. Dr. Jacqui Wilmshurst from Beverley, U.K., is a health and environmental psychologist. After she was diagnosed as an adult, she disclosed her neurodivergence to her new manager. She was immediately sent on a mandatory occupational health referral to reassess her ability to do the job. That was the job for which she had been through 11 interviews—after being recruited by the employer in the first place, for her unusual thinking and innovative approach. After disclosure, Jacqui’s manager said they needed a “playbook” to manage Jacqui, and only a doctor could provide that. Jacqui ended up resigning. Justin Donne worked in the U.K. and France for governmental organizations, private companies, and many boards. He was also seen as “too much” and told to slow down. In one of his roles, Justin broke organizational records for KPIs, facilitated fundraising windfalls, and developed award-winning programs. Then, he was placed under a micromanager who wanted to control everything Justin did and how he did it. That was the end of Justin’s career with that organization. These stories may not be glamorous, but they’re important. They reflect the experiences of the majority of autistic talent—the ones who are too often left out of workplace conversations or considerations. Canaries in the coal mines whose struggles are signals of broken human resources and management systems. A Broader Vision of Autistic Talent Fairness means building unbiased, outcomes-focused work environments. It means supporting all autistic people in developing their talents, extraordinary or not. It means removing the barriers that hold so many back. It means recognizing autistic people’s value as inherent, not commodified. To move from celebrating the exceptional to creating work environments of ordinary excellence where all autistic people can thrive, where all people can thrive, we need to: 1. Broaden the Narrative: Highlight a range of autistic stories, including those of people who are overlooked, struggling, or simply living ordinary lives. Push back against reductive portrayals of autism as either a “superpower” or a “tragedy.” Autism is a complex human experience, not a marketing slogan. 2. Celebrate Human Value: Celebrate autistic and allistic people for who they are, not for “superpowers.” Everyone deserves dignity, belonging, and the chance to contribute. 3. Remove Barriers: Design fair and flexible workplaces that offer employment and success opportunities for all people, autistic or allistic, regardless of their economic or social standing. Such workplaces benefit all. They help create more stories to celebrate. When a high-profile person brings a spotlight to autism, it’s an opportunity to celebrate and educate. But it’s also a moment to reflect. Whose stories are centered? Whose stories are ignored? And how can we expand the conversation to ensure fairness and opportunities for all? The full story of autistic talent is about people—all of us—deserving dignity, respect, and the right support to thrive. Helping everyone develop their talents enriches the workplace and the world far beyond the contributions of any one person, however exceptional. 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The Chinese AI company DeepSeek is making major waves across the tech industry after rising to prominence seemingly overnight. The artificial intelligence tool emerged in the top spot in Apple’s App Store yesterday, above competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini—and on a comparatively tiny timeline and budget. But there’s another way that DeepSeek is quietly outdoing its American competitors: through its branding. Late last week, DeepSeek released an updated version of its open-source chatbot called DeepSeek-V3, a product that has some tech analysts describing the company’s efforts as “a shot across the bow at the U.S. tech world.” DeepSeek-V3 performs similarly to chatbots like ChatGPT-4o and Meta’s Llama—despite being created in just a few months, being trained on inferior hardware, and requiring a reported budget of just $6 million. (ChatGPT spent $100 million on its latest iteration alone.) The news caused the Nasdaq to tumble by $1 trillion yesterday as markets reacted to the success of the lower-cost LLM challenger. But the visual representation of this industry disruptor is not a swirling black-void logo à la OpenAI, or even a robot. Instead, it’s a friendly blue whale. This diverges from branding trends currently dominating the AI industry, which lean into abstract design and increasingly rigid, tech-inspired aesthetics. By bucking those trends, DeepSeek is offering consumers a new point of view on how an AI company might conduct and represent itself. [Image: Deepseek] DeepSeek’s logo makes a splash DeepSeek’s logo is a plump, bright blue whale that almost appears to be jumping across the screen. It’s accompanied by the brand’s wordmark in a rounded, fractured sans-serif font. The overall visual identity creates an air of approachability and friendliness that makes the brand stand out. That’s because there’s been a “lack of personality and joy” in tech-industry branding over the past several years, according to designer Martin Grasser, who created Twitter’s iconic blue bird logo back in 2012. “We’ve seen this homogenization of design when you look across tech companies,” Grasser says, adding that he doesn’t see identity design as “a big differentiator” in the current tech environment. He notes that the tech sector has undergone a stark branding evolution from the playful and humanist approach of the aughts to more grandiose visual storytelling. “Now we have Uber, Meta, Tesla, X—we’ve really taken this turn toward technology as the answer,” he says. Grasser says he was “charmed” by DeepSeek’s logo, as well as the concept behind it. [Image: Deepseek] The brand is a WIP, but “evokes imagination” While DeepSeek hasn’t openly explained its design choices, when we asked the company’s chatbot about the logo, it replied that the mark “likely symbolizes depth, intelligence, and exploration—qualities that align with the company’s focus on AI and deep learning.” The choice of a whale works on several symbolic levels, according to Teemu Suviala, chief creative officer at Landor. “There are many cultures that associate whales with wisdom, power, and prosperity,” he says. “Seeing a whale [is] an omen of good things to come in many cultures.” Suviala adds that the concept of a whale navigating the ocean is a strong metaphor for DeepSeek’s users. “The concept of navigating is probably connected to the open-source nature of DeepSeek that is somewhat different from the competition,” he says. Suviala and Grasser agree that there’s still plenty of work to be done on DeepSeek’s branding, both noting that the whale’s eye becomes lost at a small scale. Grasser believes the brand’s typography doesn’t quite fit with its friendly, optimistic logo, as the fracturing creates a “nervous” feeling. Suviala called out the inconsistent kerning. Such inconsistencies could be due to the nature of startup branding. Ross Clugston, chief creative officer at Design Bridge and Partners, says that in the U.S., most startups tend to hold off on investing in branding until “they have matured and need to signal to investors they are serious about making profit.” Clugston points to Airbnb, Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok, noting that “all of their early branding efforts fell drastically short” of the actual product they were building. “Logos with animals are usually reserved for more playful tech pastimes like Twitter, Mailchimp, Tripadvisor, Evernote,” he says. “I think this is a conscious effort [by DeepSeek] to be nonthreatening.” Still, DeepSeek’s unexpected branding is a first building block toward establishing an AI company that opts to distinguish itself from the competition rather than blending in. “It evokes imagination and the unknown, and that’s cool,” Grasser says. “It’s nice to hear from somebody who’s curious, as opposed to omnipresent or hovering above you.” Logos from OpenAI, DeepMind, Synthesia, DeepMotion, Laika, Oneirocom, Mentum, Regie.ai, Eyeware, Stability AI, HyperWrite, Cortexica, and oPRO.ai [Image: courtesy James I. Bowie] Will this design disruptor have staying power? Over the past several years, dominant AI companies have embraced a few key graphic icons that have come to define the space at large. There are the minimalist, robot-inspired logos, as those from Replika, Jasper AI, and Enzyme. There’s the abstract, swirling hexagon that’s come to define giants like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Stability AI. The secondary sparkle icon has been used by companies as far-ranging as OpenAI, Google, Adobe, and Grammarly to suggest the presto magic of their AI tools. As AI has become more powerful, it seems Big Tech companies have focused more on signaling that they’re part of the industry-shaking, boundary-breaking AI “club” than actually distinguishing their own brand identities. And the more ingrained these tropes become in consumers’ minds, the more incentive there is for new AI companies to go with the flow and bank on established visual associations. Taken alongside the sector’s existing logos, DeepSeek’s mascot-adjacent approach is a pretty big risk. Whether the play actually succeeds, Suviala notes, will come down to how the company conducts itself in the coming months—including whether the product experience itself and the company’s communication style aligns with its friendly exterior. “I would venture as far as to say that DeepSeek is and was always going to terrify Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and government regulators,” Clugston says. “So it’s strategically sound to make the logo a cute little whale.” View the full article

This year, 2,500 girls will be able to attend secondary school in Afghanistan. While this shouldn’t be a remarkable feat, it is: The Taliban government forbids girls from receiving an education beyond 6th grade. Ideas Beyond Borders, a nonprofit organization, is helping to support The Underground School Initiative that educates girls in 38 secret locations throughout Afghanistan. In an unexpected turn, this project will be partially funded by The Citizenry, a U.S.-based home goods brand, which raised money during its Black Friday sale last year to pay for teachers, educational supplies, and facilities for these students. [Photo: The Citizenry] Desperate for an Education In 2021, when the United States left Afghanistan and the Taliban took back power, one of the new government’s mandates was that girls would not receive more than a primary education. Schools shuttered overnight. This came as a rude shock to the 850,000 girls who were pulled out of school, when they had previously assumed that an education was a fundamental right. Teenagers were turned away from their old classrooms, some in tears. Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, who founded Ideas Beyond Borders eight years ago, had been paying close attention to this unfolding catastrophe. The goal of his organization is to create a free and prosperous Middle East by spreading knowledge and education. For instance, the organization has added upwards of 40,000 articles onto Wikipedia in local languages, including Arabic, Farsi, and Pashtun. [Photo: Ideas Beyond Borders] After the U.S. left Afghanistan, Al Mutar, who splits time between the U.S. and the UAE, began receiving messages from journalists in Afghanistan saying that there were families and teachers who wanted to defy the ban on education and start creating a network of underground schools. There are now many brave communities across the country that are putting thousands of girls through school. “They were taking incredible risks,” Al Mutar says. “Parents were donating their houses so that girls could continue their education.” Ideas Beyond Borders wanted to support this work, so it sent a team to vet these schools. It then served as a link between these schools and the outside world, helping to find individuals and companies who would be willing to fund these underground schools. [Photo: The Citizenry] There appears to be some disagreement among the Taliban’s leadership about whether girls should be allowed to go to school. There have been several points over the past four years when some leaders were open to reversing the decision. But a minority of senior hardliners are committed to this stance, and girls continue to be banned from school. While it is a risk for these girls to attend the underground school, communities have found ways to skirt the rules. Teachers describe their classrooms as madrasas, or Islamic religious schools. And according to CBS News, the Taliban’s involvement and regulation of these madrasas vary by location and local officials involved. In Taliban strongholds in the south and east of the country, authorities tend to enforce the ban, while in other areas, leaders are willing to turn a blind eye. Al Mutar isn’t particularly optimistic that things are going to get better in Afghanistan. He says that regime appears to be set on imposing more restrictions on women. The Taliban is making it harder to work, and there’s a new law that bans women from singing. “It’s been more and more challenging,” says Al Mutar. “Freedoms are declining.” [Photo: The Citizenry] Black Friday For Good Rachel Bentley and Carly Nance launched The Citizenry in 2014 as a brand that sold home decor ethically sourced from 4,000 artisans in 23 countries around the world. (Last year, it was acquired by Havenly, which owns many home furnishing brands.) They partnered with Fair Trade to ensure that all workers were receiving a living wage. “We learned that handmade doesn’t always mean fairly paid,” Nance says. “We want to invest in these communities for many reasons, including that it allows them to deliver the best craftsmanship.” Nance says that over the course of working with skilled craftspeople from around the world, they found communities in Afghanistan than made traditional hand-knotted rugs. The company was keen to source rugs made by female artisans. But when the Taliban took over, women were no longer allowed to work outside the home. The Citizenry worked with local organizations committed to helping women continue to work safely, if they chose to do so. “This meant rerouting rugs through neighboring countries before sending them to the U.S., rather than shipping them directly from Afghanistan, since this would make it less likely that local authorities would audit the rug-making facilities,” says Nance. “We’ve worked to build a supply chain and shipping rout where we can get the rugs in and out, while protecting the women who are working on them.” [Photo: Ideas Beyond Borders] When Nance discovered the network of underground schools, she was eager to support this work through The Citizenry. She believes giving girls an education is one step toward helping them work across many industries, ultimately creating more possibilities for their lives. She reached out to Ideas Beyond Borders to see how her team could help. The Citizenry turned its Black Friday Sale into an opportunity to raise funds for these schools by donating profits to Ideas Beyond Borders. It raised $30,000 that will fund the education of 2,500 girls in 38 secret locations across the country. “Black Friday is our single-biggest day of sales in the year, and we thought it would be a beautiful kickoff to the holiday season,” she says. Al Mutar hopes that the education the girls receive will allow them to find work in areas they are interested in. Some are eager to learn English and French so they can find work as translators. Others are eager to become graphic designers. A proportion of these girls are even able to go to university in women’s colleges in Bangladesh. “They can then go through a more formal education system and find even more job opportunities,” he says. View the full article

As fires burned tens of thousands of acres across Los Angeles County, officials were warning residents that the air was a “toxic soup” of pollution—fueled by the fact that not only vegetation but cars, buildings, homes, and all the plastics and electronics inside them were going up in flames. But to some residents’ surprise, the Air Quality Index (AQI) on their phones didn’t relay that same message. That’s because AQI doesn’t capture the full scope of air pollution—which, during the fires, was made up of toxins including lead, chlorine, and bromine. To give residents a fuller picture of what exactly was in the air around L.A., scientists with an air monitoring project made their advanced air pollution measurements available to the public. Lead data, Los Angeles 1/1/2025-1/28/2025 [Screenshot: ASCENT Data] What doesn’t AQI capture in air pollution? The Environmental Protection Agency developed the AQI to measure five major pollutants: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also called fine particulate matter or PM2.5, meaning particles that are 2.5 microns or less in size), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. PM2.5 and ozone tend to be the primary pollutants. The index gives all this air pollution a value based on the total mass concentration. That means the general AQI reading can lack specificity, says Roya Bahreini, a professor of atmospheric science at University of California Riverside and a co-principal investigator of the Atmospheric Science and Chemistry mEasurement NeTwork, or ASCENT project. It’s also missing certain toxins that may be released during events like urban wildfires. “Just looking at the value of PM2.5 cannot tell you how toxic the air is.” The way many cities measure the aerosols in their air doesn’t show a full, real-time picture, she adds. While some may measure air pollutants continuously, they may only analyze the air filters every three or five days. They’re also aggregating all that data into a 24-hour period. “You don’t get these very dynamic profiles,” Bahreini says, “We don’t know if the high concentration that one filter sees is because of something that happened in the morning rush hour or the afternoon rush hour or at night.” These gaps are what the ASCENT project, which was funded by the National Science Foundation in 2021, hopes to fill. “We wanted to have a continuous look at the chemical composition of the PM2.5, and this fast, sort of state-of-the-art network has not existed in the U.S.,” Bahreini says. ASCENT set up its network at 12 sites across the country, including two locations in Los Angeles. “With this network, we see continuously how dynamic the aerosol composition can be, and also how things change.” Chlorine data, Los Angeles 1/1/2025-1/28/2025 [Screenshot: ASCENT Data] Lead and chlorine in L.A. wildfire air ASCENT’s goal is to have all its measurements public by September 2025, but it rushed to make a website with its L.A. readings available during the fires as researchers realized the importance of what they were capturing. Early on, ASCENT’s monitoring site in Pico Rivera, which is part of southeastern Los Angeles County, saw massive spikes in airborne lead—jumping, at its worst, to 472 nanograms of lead per cubic meter of air. The EPA’s safe levels for lead in the air is 150 nanograms per cubic meter averaged over three months. Before the fires began, L.A.’s levels were less than 3 nanograms. Around the same time. ASCENT’s tools also clocked spikes in chlorine to more than 13,000 nanograms per cubic meter of air, when the background level in the region is usually less than 50 nanograms. Bromine levels also saw significant spikes. Exposure to all of these can come with health impacts: Breathing in lead has been associated with brain and nervous system damage; chlorine can damage the respiratory tract and lungs, and bromine exposure can cause lung inflammation. (Though for the latter two, its difficult to know the risk given how they were distributed through the air during the fires.) Breathing in lots of particulate pollution in general can cause respiratory issues and even premature mortality. These three chemicals are “very unique” to something like an urban wildfire, Bahreini says. Lead could have gotten into the air from soil deposits that were burning, as well as lead pipes or paint from older homes. Chlorine is often added to plastics, including PVC piping, computer casings, or the insulation around wires. “You can imagine how much of that got burned,” Bahreini says. Bromine could be in all sorts of household materials, from mattresses to sofas to carpets, because it’s often used a component of flame retardants. Checking the air quality—and masking up The highest levels of those three toxins did decrease after the most active periods of the fires. Still, even once they decreased, their levels were still above normal—possibly because of wind, cleaning efforts, or other disturbances that can redistribute the particles in the air. ASCENT is planning to keep its publicly-available L.A.-area data online as long as there is interest, and fire risk, so residents can keep an eye on these pollutants with real-time data. (L.A. did recently get some rain that eased the wildfires, though officials warned that fire conditions could still persist afterwards, especially if the Santa Ana winds return.) Bahreini encourages residents to wear a mask, like an N95 or Kn95, that protects against PM2.5. View the full article

You may have thought about the benefits of offering free WiFi to your customers in your business. It makes sense when you consider the fact that consumers spend a great deal of time on their mobile devices. It also makes sense if your revenue depends on traffic through your door. But do the benefits outweigh the costs of giving customers access? Does offering free WiFi attract new customers? Will they spend more? Will it give my business a competitive edge? We will answer those questions and more, citing multiple research studies to back up our conclusions. Proven Stats from Multiple Studies A number of research studies from around the globe tout the benefits of offering free WiFi in coffee shops, restaurants, bars, retail stores, or other consumer-facing businesses. These include studies from companies, universities, and research organizations. Each study examines the topic and lists one or more reasons you, as a business owner, should offer free WiFi. Benefits of Offering Free WiFi Small businesses today require every potential advantage to remain competitive. Do the benefits of offering free wifi fall into this category? Explore these nine benefits and determine for yourself if providing free WiFi can assist you in attracting customers and increasing your revenue. Customer Loyalty will Increase Customer loyalty is a key factor in any small business’s success. Several studies have shown that offering free WiFi will lead to increased loyalty. For example, a doctoral thesis from Florida International University (FIU) student Jiyeon Jeon, Examining How Wi-Fi Affects Customers Loyalty at Different Restaurants: An Examination from South Korea, explored how offering free WiFi has on customer loyalty and retention in restaurant patrons. He found that WiFi access had a positive impact regardless of whether it was a coffee shop, fast-food, casual dining, or another type of venue. Another study, The Impact of Wi-Fi Service in Restaurants on Customers’ Likelihood of Return to a Restaurant, from ResearchGate, revealed that tech-savvy patrons prefer (and will return to) a restaurant or cafe that offers free WiFi service. Customers will Stay Longer at Your Establishment One aspect of enhanced loyalty is that customers tend to spend more time at a venue that offers free WiFi, and longer visits lead to increased sales. The FIU student thesis said that “restaurants are more likely to generate higher revenues when customers spend more time” and that “Wi-Fi has been found to act as a tool to encourage consumers to stay longer at restaurants.” You will Gain a Competitive Edge The Norton Wi-Fi Risk Report indicates that individuals make purchasing decisions influenced by WiFi signal availability. It highlights various industries where WiFi serves as a critical deciding factor: Hotel (71%) Transport (46%) Dining (46%) Airline (46%) A survey commissioned by Devicescape, a WiFi beacon network of 400 small, consumer-facing businesses, discovered that providing WiFi also leads to increased foot traffic, yet another reason to make WiFi one of the amenity services offered. Customers Spend More Money at Your Business According to marketing technology firm BazaarVoice, customers consult their mobile devices to conduct product research and read customer reviews before making an in-store purchase. Advertising research firm On Device Research found that 60% of survey respondents use their mobile devices in-store to research products and prices before making a purchase. What are they researching? 34% compare prices 23% use email or social networks 17% look at product reviews 16% check product specifications 16% scan barcodes to compare prices 5% buy items through their mobile device 16% look for mobile discount codes or vouchers Such ROBO (research online, buy offline) behavior is a force multiplier in consumer spending activity. The On Device Research study said that over a third of the customers purchased the product in the store, while 14% chose a different store, and 20% decided to buy via their desktop, laptop, or mobile phone. The bottom line: When free WiFi is available, the greater the ease of access and the more money customers spend. Your Online Audience Will Increase Audience growth is another one of the many benefits offering free WiFi gives businesses. A relevant example is the On Device Research study, which found that 74% of customers are willing to receive text messages or emails with promotional offers from a store once they are connected to the store’s WiFi. Additionally, by offering Facebook WiFi, you can expand this audience, as it helps customers feel more comfortable and secure using the service. Customers will be more Informed Providing business information is one more way free access makes potential customers happy. As On Device Research said, 16% of consumers look for mobile discount codes or vouchers, and 34% compare prices before purchasing. Customers will Feel More Confident to Dine Alone Telecompaper, a UK telecom industry publication, cited research from O2 Wifi, a company that offers free WiFi services, which said the availability of free Wifi in cafes, bars, and restaurants means that “Brits are no longer embarrassed to dine alone.” More than half (53%) of respondents say they are now “happy to eat and drink alone” so long as they have internet access to check email, connect with friends, and look up menu items, the research showed. Six in ten people (58%) say public WiFi encourages them to spend time in public on their own; one in seven (14%) insist WiFi access is crucial for them to consider entering a cafe, sports bar, or restaurant; and one in ten base their dining experience on internet network availability. You Can Collect Customer Data and Improve Your Marketing Efforts As a business owner, understanding your customers is crucial. The more you know about them, the better you can meet their needs and desires. One significant advantage of offering free WiFi in your establishment is the enhanced ability to track customer behavior. Many WiFi service providers enable you to collect customer data. One such provider, Beambox, citing CMO Council data, said that 56% of social media users will log in using their social media profiles in exchange for a customized brand experience. When people log on to your WiFi network connection, they give you their contact details, something that’s hard to come by due to customers’ desire for privacy and security. Along with that information comes permission to market and advertise your products and services. And this makes WiFi marketing another tool for engaging with your customers. Customer Satisfaction Will Increase if You Offer Free WiFi Not only will loyalty among customers increase due to free WiFi but also their satisfaction. (And we know that the more satisfied your customers are, the more likely they are to tell their friends.) A report from Systemagic, a hospitality industry IT firm, said that “free and high-speed WiFi, together with good connectivity in terms of bandwidth, are powerful tools for hotels to increase customer satisfaction.” The report indicated that both business and leisure travelers prioritize free guest access more than other amenities like complimentary breakfast or free parking. Below is a summary of the statistics: Leisure travelers: 25% Free WiFi 22% Free breakfast 15% Free parking 10% Swimming pool Business travelers: 49% Free wifi 14% Free breakfast 11% proximity to mass transit, transportation, and shops 6% Comfortable work chair and desk Enhance Customer Experience with WiFi-Based Services Free WiFi opens doors to a range of WiFi-based services that can significantly elevate the customer experience. These services can include: WiFi-Based Ordering Systems: In cafes or restaurants, implement systems where customers can order directly from their devices. This reduces wait times and improves service efficiency. Interactive Store Maps: For retail businesses, offer WiFi-enabled store maps to help customers navigate your store more efficiently, enhancing their shopping experience. Use WiFi Analytics for Business Insights WiFi analytics can provide valuable insights into customer behavior, preferences, and patterns. Use this data to: Track Foot Traffic: Analyze the busiest times in your store and adjust staffing and inventory accordingly. Understand Customer Preferences: Use WiFi log-in data to learn about your customers and tailor your marketing strategies to match their interests. Boost Social Media Engagement Encourage customers to check in at your location or share their experiences on social media in exchange for free WiFi access. This can: Increase Online Visibility: Each check-in or share acts as a personal recommendation, enhancing your business’s online presence. Encourage Word-of-mouth Marketing: Positive social media engagement can influence potential customers and broaden your reach. Offer Targeted Promotions and Personalized Experiences With free WiFi, you can create personalized experiences for your customers by offering: Targeted Promotions: Use the captive portal to offer special discounts or promotions to customers who log in to your WiFi. Personalized Recommendations: Based on their browsing history, suggest products or services they might be interested in. Enhance In-Store Entertainment and Information Use WiFi to offer entertainment or additional information to your customers, such as: In-Store Streaming Services: Provide access to music or video streaming services within your premises. Product Information and Demos: Allow customers to view extensive product information or stream demo videos using your WiFi network. Improve Customer Feedback and Interaction Leverage the WiFi connection to enhance direct communication with your customers by: Instant Feedback: Allow customers to provide immediate feedback about their experience through a simple online form accessible via your WiFi network. Interactive Surveys and Polls: Conduct surveys or polls to gather customer opinions and preferences. Strengthen Security and Privacy While offering free WiFi, ensure robust security protocols to protect your customers’ data and privacy. This includes: Secure Network: Implement strong encryption and security measures to safeguard user data. Privacy Assurance: Clearly communicate your privacy policies and how you handle user data. Community Building and Event Hosting Use your WiFi-enabled space to host community events or workshops, which can: Attract New Customers: Events can draw in people who may not have visited your business otherwise. Build a Community Around Your Brand: Regular events can foster a sense of community, making your business a local hub. Integrate with Loyalty Programs Combine your free WiFi offering with your loyalty program to encourage repeat business: Loyalty Points for WiFi Use: Offer points or rewards to customers for using your WiFi service. Special Offers for Loyal Customers: Grant loyal customers exclusive access to premium content or special deals through WiFi. Utilize for Employee Training and Development Your business’s WiFi can also be a resource for staff training: Online Training Modules: Enable staff to access training materials and courses through your WiFi network. Streamline Operations: Use WiFi to improve internal communication and operational efficiency. Implement Location-Based Marketing and Services Free WiFi can be a powerful tool for location-based marketing and personalized services. This strategy can enhance customer engagement and provide unique experiences directly related to their in-store location. Here’s how it can be utilized: Push Notifications for In-Store Promotions: Use WiFi to send real-time notifications about special offers or discounts when customers are near specific areas of your store. For instance, if a customer is browsing in the shoe section, they could receive a notification about a promotion on shoe accessories. Location-Based Product Information: Offer customers comprehensive details about products nearby. By connecting to your WiFi, customers can view multimedia content such as videos, user manuals, or customer reviews associated with items in their immediate area. Personalized Shopping Assistance: Implement a system where customers can request assistance or more information about a product through their mobile device. This service can be particularly useful in large stores where finding help can sometimes be challenging. Enhanced In-Store Experience: Utilize location-based data to optimize store layout and product placement based on the most frequented areas. This approach can improve the overall shopping experience and increase sales. By embracing these strategies, the provision of free WiFi in your business becomes more than just a courtesy – it transforms into a strategic tool that not only delights your customers but also contributes significantly to your business’s growth and evolution. How can I make free WiFi successful? After reviewing all the benefits of offering free internet access that you, as a business owner, can accrue, your decision should be a no-brainer. You may be asking yourself how your company has gotten along without it? Customers appreciate the convenience; they stay longer and spend more; it increases loyalty and satisfaction; you can gather valuable data on customers to help improve your products and services—the list of reasons is endless! So, how do you go about setting it up? It involves just a few steps: Establish a dedicated internet connection. Even if you have internal WiFi for your employees, it’s necessary to set up a separate channel for customer use. Your internet provider can take care of that for you. Don’t skimp on speed. The faster your internet connection, the more your customers will like it… and you! Set up a password. You may be less concerned about password-protecting your free WiFi channel than you are about the internal network connection employees use. Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to set a password. Otherwise, you may get “loiterers” leeching onto your network without purchasing anything. Create a captive portal. When your customers log on to your network, it’s a good idea to have a landing page (called a “captive portal”) that requires their name and email address to gain access. The screen can also include coupon codes, discounts, special promotions, and other incentives for marketing purposes. Steps to Make Free WiFi SuccessfulKey Considerations Establish a dedicated internet connection.Set up a separate channel for customer use to ensure reliable and efficient internet access. Don't skimp on speed.Opt for a fast internet connection to enhance customer experience and encourage prolonged stays. Set up a password.Implement a password to prevent unauthorized access and ensure that only paying customers connect. Create a captive portal.Design a captive portal that requires customer information for access and offers marketing incentives. Conclusion: Embracing the Power of Free WiFi for Your Business In today’s digital age, the role of free WiFi in enhancing customer experiences and driving business success cannot be understated. As we’ve delved into the numerous benefits of offering complimentary internet access, it becomes evident that the advantages far outweigh any concerns. This conclusion is reinforced by a wealth of research studies spanning various industries and locations. By offering free WiFi, businesses can access a wide array of advantages that influence customer behavior, loyalty, and spending habits. The gathered evidence highlights a broad spectrum of benefits, including enhanced customer loyalty, longer stay durations, a competitive advantage, and improved decision-making. Additionally, providing free WiFi establishes a foundation for greater customer engagement, allowing for data collection that supports targeted marketing strategies and ultimately enhances customer satisfaction. As highlighted by the diverse studies and statistics, businesses that prioritize offering free WiFi create an environment conducive to enhancing customer experiences. With the potential to attract new patrons, increase customer loyalty, and drive higher spending, the decision to implement free WiFi becomes a strategic choice that aligns with modern consumer preferences. Furthermore, the actionable steps provided offer a practical guide to successfully establishing a seamless and secure free WiFi service that not only benefits customers but also empowers businesses to harness valuable insights for continuous improvement and growth. In essence, embracing the power of free WiFi isn’t just about connectivity; it’s about delivering a holistic and enriching experience that resonates with today’s tech-savvy consumers. As technology continues to shape our interactions and expectations, offering free WiFi stands as a testament to a business’s commitment to innovation, convenience, and customer-centricity. In a world where connectivity defines our daily lives, free WiFi isn’t just a service—it’s a strategic investment in the present and future success of your business. Image: Depositphotos This article, "Study: Yes, There Are Benefits of Offering Free WiFi" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Our cognition and mental well-being are crucial factors for our quality of life and put us in a good position to contribute to society. Ultimately, it can be near impossible to achieve physical goals and demanding life challenges if our brain health is not optimal. Yet most of us appear to be more concerned with physical health than brain health. According to the YouGov website, the most popular New Year’s resolutions in the U.K. in 2024 were doing more exercise, saving money, losing weight and dieting—with about 20% reporting they were failing some resolutions just six days into the year. A large study of approximately 1,000 participants showed that mental health featured in only about 5% of resolutions. It’s easy to monitor your physical health using mobile devices and wearable technology. It may be more unclear, however, how to improve and monitor brain health and mental well-being. In our new book, Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life, we draw on research to offer practical tips. A number of factors contribute to our happiness in life, including genetics, our social and physical environment, cognition, and our behavior, such as lifestyle choices. Studies have shown that good cognitive function is related to better well-being and happiness. Interestingly, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report, all five Nordic countries—Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—are among the top 10 happiest countries. The U.K. and the U.S., however, do not feature in the top 10. In the U.K., the YouGov website has been tracking mood states, and while it reports that happiness is the most commonly expressed emotion, only 45% of people feel it. Ideally this number should be much higher. In addition, feeling stressed and frustrated are the next top emotions, with 40% and 35% of people having these feelings, respectively. Disappointingly, optimism is also low; for example, only 23% of 18-to-24-year-olds and those older than 75, and just 17% of 45-to-54-year-olds, report feeling optimistic on average. Happiness and well-being in general reduces the effects of stress and promotes health and longevity. Nurturing your brain In our book, we draw on the latest scientific evidence, including our own, to highlight seven essential lifestyle factors that improve our brain health, cognition, and well-being. We demonstrate how simple—and often surprising—adjustments to our daily habits can enhance brain fitness, boost cognition, and promote overall well-being. We suggest small incremental steps to improving lifestyle habits and ensuring these fit within our daily activities, as well as being enjoyable and pleasurable. In this way we can ensure that, unlike New Year’s resolutions that we give up within six days, we can maintain these throughout life. This puts us in a better position to achieve physical challenges in the future. These lifestyle factors include exercise, diet, sleep, social interactions, kindness, mindfulness and learning, and knowing how to get the best out of work. For example, exercise is an “all-rounder,” as it can boost our physical health but also our brain health, cognition, and mood. In fact, studies have shown that exercise can increase the size of our hippocampus, which is critical for learning and memory. Similarly, sleeping the optimal number of hours each night can improve our immune system, brain structure, and mental well-being. Our own study showed that sleeping seven to eight hours per night in middle to older adulthood was associated with better brain structure; cognition, such as processing speed and memory; and mental health. Staying socially connected also plays an important role in our brain health. We have shown that being socially isolated in older adults is associated with a 26% increased risk of dementia. Whereas having the optimal number of friends in adolescence, about five, is linked with better brain structure, cognition, educational attainment, and well-being. Learning new things is also essential to keep the neural circuits in our brain functioning at their best level for as long as possible. We need to challenge ourselves mentally to keep our brains active—just as we need to do physical exercise to keep our bodies fit. This builds cognitive reserve and helps us in times of stress. We can also keep our brains active in a number of ways, for example by learning a new language or how to play a musical instrument. Or you can read an educational book about something that interests you. Keeping our bodies healthy is incredibly important. But we need to also nurture our brains if we want to be happy, mentally sharp, and well protected against diseases such as dementia. Embracing these simple strategies to prioritize our brain health and well-being is essential for a happier and more fulfilling life. Ultimately, lifestyle choices play a significant role in reducing stress and promoting resilience, creativity, and overall quality of life. Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian is a professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Cambridge. Christelle Langley is a postdoctoral research associate of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. View the full article

Donald Robertson is a cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist. He has been researching Stoicism for over twenty years and is one of the founding members of the nonprofit Modern Stoicism. He is also the founder and president of the Plato’s Academy Centre nonprofit in Greece. What’s the big idea? The philosophy and methods of Socrates can help bring calm and clarity to the distracted, nervous, and angry modern mind. His training techniques share remarkable overlaps with modern cognitive-behavioral therapy. Below, Donald shares five key insights from his new book, How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World. Listen to the audio version—read by Donald himself—in the Next Big Idea App. 1. How to practice the Socratic Method. Socrates, despite being one of the most influential philosophers in history, wrote nothing. At least, that’s what people like to say. However, Plato, his most famous student, tells us that while in prison awaiting his execution, Socrates wrote poetry. More intriguingly, Epictetus, the famous Stoic philosopher who lived four centuries later, claimed that Socrates jotted down countless notes that were designed for his own self-improvement but never intended for publication. Another of his students describes how Socrates taught a young man to practice philosophy by means of a formal written exercise. For this exercise, Socrates drew two columns, the first headed “Justice” and the second “Injustice.” His companion was invited to list examples of wrongdoing under the heading of injustice, such as theft and deceit. It’s often easier to understand our values if we begin by defining their opposites. However, the basic skill underlying the Socratic Method really comes into play in the next step. Socrates asked his friend to imagine any situations where the things he’d listed under Injustice might be placed under the heading of Justice. For instance, a general who seized the weapons of the enemy during a war might be said to be stealing, but perhaps that’s not unjust. Likewise, a father might be considered justified in concealing medicine in his sick child’s food despite this being a form of deceit. Socrates was skilled at coming up with these sorts of examples. Training yourself to think of exceptions to rules and definitions can help you avoid applying them too rigidly. This skill is important because the advice and techniques we learn from self-help books are often of limited value. What’s good advice in one situation may become bad advice in another. Solutions that work well for some problems may backfire when applied to others. Wisdom consists of thinking for yourself by adapting rules to fit new situations. Socrates’s two-column technique only teaches one small part of his famous philosophical method, but it’s a great way to start thinking more flexibly and adaptively about life. 2. Generate alternative perspectives. Epictetus said, “People are distressed not by events but by their opinions about events.” This was one of the main inspirations behind cognitive therapy, the leading form of modern evidence-based psychotherapy. The idea goes back to Socrates, a century before the Stoic school of philosophy was founded. Modern psychological research has confirmed that our beliefs shape our emotions more than we normally assume. By changing the way we think, we can change the way we feel. “Socrates, at times, behaved rather like a modern-day cognitive therapist.” An obstacle stands in the way. Some of our beliefs are so entrenched that we find it difficult to imagine ever viewing events differently. When we’re gripped by strong emotions, such as fear or anger, it may feel natural to view certain events as catastrophic or certain people as unbearable. Socrates, at times, behaved rather like a modern-day cognitive therapist. He would ask his friends whether they imagined that the events that upset them might be viewed differently by other people. What you see as a catastrophe, someone else might view as bad but only temporary, whereas a third might even look at it as an opportunity. By becoming aware that multiple alternative perspectives are conceivable, you can attune to the way your beliefs influence your emotions. 3. Separate your thoughts from external events. Cognitive therapists say our beliefs are like colored lenses through which we look at the world. Suppose you’re wearing blue lenses, which color the world with sadness. There’s a difference between looking at the world through your sad, blue lenses and looking at them. This shift in perspective can be compared to observing your own biases as if you were observing someone else’s. When we can distinguish between our thoughts and external reality, we experience two main benefits. The most obvious is that our emotions tend to be reduced in intensity. The second is more subtle but arguably even more valuable: We become better at exploring alternative ways of looking at problems. With this flexibility, we find creative solutions to improve how things work out in the long term. Therapists today have fancy names for this, like cognitive distancing or defusion, but it basically means learning to separate beliefs from the things they refer to. It allows you to view your own thinking with greater objectivity and has been found especially helpful for emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. The simplest way to do this is by writing your thoughts down and observing them from a detached perspective. Another method is to tell yourself, “I notice right now that I am having the thought . . .” and then state the thought you were having as if you were putting it in quotation marks. You can also imagine that some thought or belief has been painted in big letters on a wall, picturing the color and shape of the letters or changing their appearance until you have a sense of the words being like external objects. Therapists may also ask their clients to repeat a troubling thought aloud rapidly for around 30 seconds or to say it more slowly, with longer pauses. It’s interesting to try worrying in slow motion! These techniques allow us to experience a thought or belief with greater detachment by looking at our mental lenses rather than looking through them. You’re not avoiding the thought, and you can still discuss evidence for and against it. You’re just experiencing it from another perspective. I believe that Socrates gained this sort of detachment from his own beliefs by discussing them with his friends. He compared self-knowledge to an eye that sees itself, and the best way to achieve this, he thought, was by engaging in philosophical conversations where you view the other person as a mirror for the mind, in which you contemplate your thinking more objectively. 4. Illeism, meaning talking in the third person. When Socrates finished discussing philosophy with his friends, he would go home and continue the conversation with himself in private. He would imagine another Socrates interrogating him about his assumptions concerning wisdom, justice, and other virtues. Socrates appears to have been known for referring to himself as if he was another person. A similar technique, which involves talking about yourself using your name or third-person pronouns, is called Illeism. It is occasionally used in modern psychotherapy to help clients manage anxiety and other distressing emotions. “We often seem better at giving other people advice than solving our own problems.” The psychologist Igor Grossmann heads a center that conducts research on the nature of wisdom at the University of Waterloo, in Canada. He was intrigued by a paradox: We often seem better at giving other people advice than solving our own problems. He and his colleagues carried out a variety of experiments and found that when people write about their problems in a journal using the third person, they exhibit more wisdom than when writing in the first person. He calls this method distanced reflection, and it can improve your ability to reason, especially about problems that normally evoke strong feelings. 5. Anger and perceived injustice. Philosophers have debated the nature of justice for thousands of years, but we don’t normally think doing so is therapeutic. However, studies have found that individuals who suffer from clinical depression often perceive themselves as victims of injustice. Ancient Greek philosophers understood that anger is often associated with a desire for those we perceive as having acted unjustly to be punished. Cognitive psychologists have arrived at a similar conclusion:Anger often involves blaming others for violating some rule. Socrates insisted that the injustice of others could not harm him. He was not angry with the men responsible for his unjust trial and execution. Paradoxically, he believed that injustice harms the perpetrator more than the victim. Few people today would accept such a radical position, but we can imagine how it may have helped Socrates show extraordinary fortitude and resilience in the face of persecution. Get into the habit of asking what does you more harm: your anger or the things you’re angry about? Although there are real injustices in the world, anger is seldom the most helpful response. In trivial cases, it may be best to let go of our sense of injustice so that we can move on. When facing more serious problems, it may be easier to replace anger with assertiveness. It can be challenging to decide whether our feelings are justified, but it’s important to spot when anger is doing us more harm than the wrongdoing we’re concerned about. This article originally appeared in Next Big Idea Club magazine and is reprinted with permission. View the full article