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With the holiday shopping season approaching, the process of finding the perfect gift can often turn into a frustrating chore for consumers. Fortunately, Google has announced a major update to its AI shopping capabilities, designed to streamline and enhance the shopping experience just in time for the holidays. Small business owners seeking to better connect with customers can significantly benefit from these advancements. One of the highlights of Google’s update is the ability to shop conversationally in Search. This means that consumers can now describe what they’re looking for using natural language, similar to how they might ask a friend for advice. This approach eliminates the need for endless filtering and keyword searching, making shopping less of a hassle. Google’s AI Mode will respond with curated information, including rich visuals alongside key details like prices, reviews, and stock availability. According to Google, this enhanced capability is powered by the Shopping Graph, which boasts over 50 billion product listings, 2 billion of which are updated every hour. This means small business owners can trust that their listings receive real-time visibility, providing consumers with up-to-date information that can influence purchasing decisions. For small businesses, this presents an opportunity to enhance their online presence and drive sales. “The aim is to facilitate a more personalized shopping experience,” said a Google representative. “Small business owners can create listings that resonate with the search behavior of their customers, making it easier for them to find exactly what they want.” Another key advantage of this new AI shopping upgrade is its ability to display tailored responses based on specific customer queries. For example, if a shopper is searching for “cozy sweaters for happy hour in warm autumn colors,” they will be shown visual representations of available products. Alternatively, if a customer is torn between different moisturizers, they will be presented with a comparison table highlighting the unique features of each option, including feedback from reviews. This kind of detailed insight empowers consumers to make informed decisions more quickly. This technological leap not only enhances the customer experience but also puts small business owners at a competitive advantage. By ensuring that product listings are optimized for the new shopping format, businesses can attract more attention during peak purchasing periods. However, while the potential benefits are significant, small business owners should also be aware of certain challenges. The reliance on AI means businesses may need to invest time into understanding how to optimize their product listings to align with the new conversational search features. This may require additional resources, whether in the form of talent or technology, to stay competitive. Moreover, with Google’s AI processing data at an unprecedented rate, there is a learning curve involved. Small business owners may need to familiarize themselves with the AI’s functions to effectively leverage its potential. As AI becomes more integrated into purchasing processes, there may be a need for continuous adaptation and learning, which some small business owners may find daunting. As shopping habits evolve, it is crucial for small business owners to adapt. Google’s recent advancements offer a promising toolkit, but how effectively these tools are utilized could determine whether businesses can fully harness their potential during holiday shopping and beyond. Overall, Google’s AI shopping update holds promise for small businesses looking to modernize their approach to online retail. By making shopping easier for consumers, it can help drive traffic and sales, provided business owners are willing to embrace the necessary adjustments. For more details, visit the original announcement at Google Blog. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Gemini Unveils AI Shopping Update to Revolutionize Holiday Gifting" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

With the holiday shopping season approaching, the process of finding the perfect gift can often turn into a frustrating chore for consumers. Fortunately, Google has announced a major update to its AI shopping capabilities, designed to streamline and enhance the shopping experience just in time for the holidays. Small business owners seeking to better connect with customers can significantly benefit from these advancements. One of the highlights of Google’s update is the ability to shop conversationally in Search. This means that consumers can now describe what they’re looking for using natural language, similar to how they might ask a friend for advice. This approach eliminates the need for endless filtering and keyword searching, making shopping less of a hassle. Google’s AI Mode will respond with curated information, including rich visuals alongside key details like prices, reviews, and stock availability. According to Google, this enhanced capability is powered by the Shopping Graph, which boasts over 50 billion product listings, 2 billion of which are updated every hour. This means small business owners can trust that their listings receive real-time visibility, providing consumers with up-to-date information that can influence purchasing decisions. For small businesses, this presents an opportunity to enhance their online presence and drive sales. “The aim is to facilitate a more personalized shopping experience,” said a Google representative. “Small business owners can create listings that resonate with the search behavior of their customers, making it easier for them to find exactly what they want.” Another key advantage of this new AI shopping upgrade is its ability to display tailored responses based on specific customer queries. For example, if a shopper is searching for “cozy sweaters for happy hour in warm autumn colors,” they will be shown visual representations of available products. Alternatively, if a customer is torn between different moisturizers, they will be presented with a comparison table highlighting the unique features of each option, including feedback from reviews. This kind of detailed insight empowers consumers to make informed decisions more quickly. This technological leap not only enhances the customer experience but also puts small business owners at a competitive advantage. By ensuring that product listings are optimized for the new shopping format, businesses can attract more attention during peak purchasing periods. However, while the potential benefits are significant, small business owners should also be aware of certain challenges. The reliance on AI means businesses may need to invest time into understanding how to optimize their product listings to align with the new conversational search features. This may require additional resources, whether in the form of talent or technology, to stay competitive. Moreover, with Google’s AI processing data at an unprecedented rate, there is a learning curve involved. Small business owners may need to familiarize themselves with the AI’s functions to effectively leverage its potential. As AI becomes more integrated into purchasing processes, there may be a need for continuous adaptation and learning, which some small business owners may find daunting. As shopping habits evolve, it is crucial for small business owners to adapt. Google’s recent advancements offer a promising toolkit, but how effectively these tools are utilized could determine whether businesses can fully harness their potential during holiday shopping and beyond. Overall, Google’s AI shopping update holds promise for small businesses looking to modernize their approach to online retail. By making shopping easier for consumers, it can help drive traffic and sales, provided business owners are willing to embrace the necessary adjustments. For more details, visit the original announcement at Google Blog. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Gemini Unveils AI Shopping Update to Revolutionize Holiday Gifting" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In utterly bleak news, AI Overviews are now more accurate about the lack of a relationship between autism and vaccines than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On Wednesday, November 19, the CDC published an updated web page that defies broad scientific consensus and even its own past statements. The page now alleges that “‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.” It must be said as early and clearly as possible that there is no link between vaccines and autism, as overwhelming data has demonstrated. Despite that fact, the first paragraph of the CDC’s guidance on vaccines and autism now reads, “Scientific studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines contribute to the development of autism.” The update exploits a loophole that allows for fearmongering to continue, experts say. “The CDC can justify changing its stance despite overwhelming evidence by exploiting a quirk of logic: you can’t prove something never happens,” writes Dr. Jake Scott, a board-certified infectious diseases specialist and clinical associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. “Scientists can’t prove vaccines never cause autism because proving a universal negative is logically impossible.” He adds that “the public can trust the evidence because it has shown time and time again that there is no link between vaccines and autism.” Debra Houry, the CDC’s former chief medical officer, told the Washington Post that the CDC’s updated language “misrepresents decades of research.” Newly updated page tops Google search results A Google search of “vaccine autism” brings an AI Overview stating that “Scientific evidence from numerous large-scale studies has overwhelmingly demonstrated no causal link between vaccines and autism.” The AI-generated result cites the CDC, World Health Organization, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. At the same time, the CDC’s newly updated page is one of the first links shown on Google after years of building up search credibility. According to its priority statement, the CDC claims that it “must lead with integrity” and “serves the American public—individuals, families, and communities—who rely on accurate data, health guidance, and preventive measures.” Yet it has published a falsehood that appears to bend to the will of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who has peddled anti-vax conspiracies along with an unproven link between taking Tylenol while pregnant and babies developing autism. Kennedy was sworn in as U.S. health secretary in February—and his influence has been swift. The next month, news broke that the CDC planned to undertake a large study into the link between vaccines and autism just as declines in vaccinations fueled measles outbreaks in children. Twisting an old headline The newly updated CDC guidance is, even more confusingly, still titled, “Vaccines do not cause autism.” It comes with an asterisk that the headline only remains because of an agreement with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, chair of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, to keep it on the CDC website. In February, Cassidy spoke in favor of Kennedy as U.S. health secretary, critically stating that the latter “committed that he would work within the current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems, and not establish parallel systems.” Cassidy continued: “CDC will not remove statements on their website pointing out that vaccines do not cause autism.” The Republican senator even emphasized earlier in his speech that the evidence shows that vaccines do not cause autism. Yet now the headline is followed with efforts to disprove the scientific evidence behind it. Fast Company has reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Senator Cassidy for comment and will update this post if we hear back. View the full article

Maybe your car broke down, your computer was stolen, or you had a surprise visit to urgent care. Emergencies are inevitable, but you can prepare to deal with them by building an emergency fund. “There are so many things that happen in our lives that we don’t expect and most of them require financial means to overcome,” said Miklos Ringbauer, a certified public accountant. The industry standard is to save three to six months of expenses in an emergency fund. However, this can feel daunting if you live paycheck to paycheck or if you have debt. But if you’re in either of these situations, it’s even more crucial to build a financial safety net that can help you in times of crisis. “Emergency funds allow you to prevent further debt,” said Jaime Eckels, certified financial planner and wealth management leader for Plante Moran Financial Advisors. Suppose you’re paying multiple credit cards and other loans. In that case, Rachel Lawrence, head of advice and planning for Monarch Money, a financial planning and budgeting app, recommends that you make the minimum payments while you build your emergency fund. Once you’ve hit an amount that feels right for your lifestyle, you can go back and continue tackling your debt more aggressively. Whether you want to start an emergency fund or create better habits while you save, here are some expert recommendations: Start with small milestones The idea of saving for three to six months’ worth of expenses can be daunting, so it’s best to start with a smaller milestone. Lawrence recommends starting with a goal of saving $1,000, then moving on to save one, three, and six months of expenses. The way you approach this goal can vary depending on your income and your budget. But starting with small, attainable goals can help you build an emergency fund without feeling financially strained. “Starting small is okay. Even if it’s $20 right out of your paycheck, those small things can add up,” Eckels said. She recommends building your emergency fund in a separate account from your regular savings account, ideally a high-yield savings account, which offers a higher interest rate than a traditional savings account. Decide on the appropriate amount for your life Knowing how much to save for your emergency fund depends on your life situation. Lawrence suggests you gauge your own financial responsibilities to estimate how much your ideal emergency fund should be. For single professionals with no significant financial responsibilities, such as a mortgage or a car, the amount might be $2,000 to $3,000. At the same time, people with children and several pets might aim to save for six months’ expenses. “There’s no one-shoe-fits-all solution. Everybody is different, especially if you have variable expenses on a monthly basis,” Ringbauer said. Lawrence recommends that self-employed people maintain two emergency funds: one to buffer low-income months and another for true emergencies. To build your buffer account, Lawrence recommends setting aside some money during high-earning months. “You set that amount aside in your buffer account until you have two or three months of the amount that you want, she said. “Because that way any month where you have less money, you go pull from the buffer and it’s no big deal.” Automate your savings Eckels recommends setting up automatic savings as a low-effort way to build your emergency fund. Scheduling your savings to be withdrawn from your bank account as soon as your paycheck arrives is an effective way to build a savings habit without having to transfer the money manually. “I always tell people if it was never in your bank account, you never had it, right?” Eckels added. She also recommends that her clients open a separate account, one that isn’t at the same bank as their checking account, so they aren’t tempted to transfer the money in a non-emergency. Make it visual As you’re making progress towards your emergency fund goal, making it visual can help you stay motivated, according to Lawrence. She recommends getting creative with how you track your progress, ideally with a method that brings you joy. “You want your brain to get rewarded as often as possible when you’re seeing a bunch of progress,” she said. Some options to make your progress visual include drawing a thermometer-like tracker and keeping it updated as you advance toward your goal, documenting your progress on a habit-building tracker on your phone, or using a budgeting app with a tracking tool. Save windfalls If your budget is really tight and you don’t have much wiggle room to set aside money for an emergency fund, Lawrence recommends saving windfalls. “Unexpected chunks of money that maybe you weren’t expecting, like tax refunds or getting a third paycheck when you normally get paid twice a month, or a bonus, those are your best ways to make progress when you’re tight otherwise,” said Lawrence. In general, Lawrence recommends that people keep 10% of their windfall for themselves and the rest for their emergency fund. With that breakdown, you can both save and feel rewarded by the unexpected income. If you use it, don’t feel guilty Chances are that an emergency will happen, and when it does, you don’t need to feel guilty for using your emergency fund, Lawrence said. Instead, it’s best to think about how you’ve achieved your goal of building a financial safety net for yourself. “You wouldn’t feel bad about using your down payment to buy a house, you wouldn’t feel bad about saving for retirement, actually to retire,” Lawrence said. —— The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. —Adriana Morga, Associated Press View the full article

For the 150th episode of my award-winning podcast series, FUTURE OF XYZ, I sat down with Nick Foster, former head of design at Google X and leading futures designer. We quickly found common ground in our strong belief that society doesn’t think about the future in the right way. ​​Too often, the future is reduced to flashy visions, both in media headlines and through messages from leading corporations. The future feels like a sci-fi movie that still seems far away. Nick and I both believe the future isn’t some distant fantasy, but rather a tomorrow already unfolding before us. To prepare, we must pay closer attention to what we know now and how people are acting today. What drives Nick and his work isn’t predictions or bets, but a deeper exploration of how we think about the future itself. That distinction resonated deeply with me. In my own work—whether the podcast, as a leader at iF Design, or in my consulting work, I’ve argued that the future isn’t something just “out there” to predict. Rather, the future is something we actively construct through our choices and the questions we dare to ask. IMAGINE THE FUTURE Nick’s new book, Could Should Might Don’t: How We Think About the Future, emerged from years of conversations inside Google X and beyond, where he noticed a surprising truth: Even among the world’s leading innovators, we often fail to approach the future with real rigor. We rely on hunches, dotted lines, and simplified stories. This lack of discipline not only weakens the conversation, but leaves us ill-equipped for what’s actually to come. Rather than writing a manifesto or prescriptive framework, Nick created a taxonomy—a way to classify the different modes of imagining the future. By delving into how we think about the future, he hopes our collective conversations become more rounded, more actionable, and more honest about uncertainty. During our conversation, we touched on the “future mundane,” the idea that most lived experiences will be found not in extremes, but in the everyday middle of the bell curve. This lens particularly aligns with my own mission at iF Design. Design, after all, is the mediator between big ideas and daily life. From the products we use, to the systems that govern them, to the values they embed, design shapes how we experience change. My role at iF Design is precisely about interrogating this: How do we embed sustainability and impact into design decisions so that what feels “ordinary” tomorrow reflects responsibility and resilience, not just convenience or speed? Nick also reflects on a profound cultural shift we are experiencing. For the first time in modern history, entire generations are less confident about what the future will bring. Having pushed exponential economic growth to its limits, we’re beginning to wrestle with the “well, and now what?” question that undercuts strident narratives of progress. In my own conversations, I’ve seen how this moment of reckoning demands we focus on intentionality, pivoting from chasing growth alone to cultivating resilience. WHAT’S NEXT In Nick’s view, technology currently holds the wheel when it comes to shaping what’s next. With that power comes responsibility—a responsibility corporations and societies alike have yet to fully embrace. I often remind audiences that while technology will remain a critical driver, it’s our values, our courage, and our willingness to collaborate that will ultimately determine the future(s) we design into being. And as Nick reminded me, in a time of unprecedented change, we must resist the urge to cling blindly to what we already believe. Instead, we need to ask deeper questions, demand more rigorous thinking, and recognize that imagining the future is not just for futurists. It’s a collective skill we all must learn—and practice together. That’s precisely why this conversation mattered to me. Every day I explore how leadership, design, and purpose intersect to shape a more human, more sustainable future. Nick’s work underscores that same truth: The future isn’t something happening to us. It’s something we are all responsible for shaping. And that begins with how we choose to think, design, and act today. Lisa Gralnek is global head of sustainability and impact for iF Design, managing director of iF Design USA Inc., and creator/host of the podcast, FUTURE OF XYZ. 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. Black Friday deals used to be relegated to the day after Thanksgiving. These days, however, they start much earlier—so why not take advantage? If you’re shopping for gifts for your favorite DIY enthusiast, or you just want to take advantage of deals for your own tool set, now is a good time to start looking. I usually take the opportunity to expand my tool battery collection if there isn’t an exciting new cordless tool I haven’t tried yet around this time of year, and that’s how I have kept a rotating collection of batteries to power all of my carpentry and DIY adventures. Best deals on cordless drills and driversA good-quality drill and driver are the foundation for any DIY home tool set because they allow you to drive screws, nuts, and bolts as well as drilling holes. I use my drill and driver set every day at work, and frequently on my own personal projects at home, and having one that’s reliable, comfortable to use, and has a good battery life is key to getting things done efficiently. The Milwaukee 18-volt cordless drill set in on sale for $99, 50% off its regular price. It comes with a 2-amp-hour battery, a charger, and a tool bag, and it’s a good tool for building a new cordless kit or to replace an existing Milwaukee drill. Since batteries are often the most expensive part of a cordless tool set, a quality set that comes with a battery and charger for under $100 is a good deal. The Milwaukee 18-volt cordless quarter-inch impact driver set is also on sale for $99, 50% off its typical price. This set comes with a 2-amp-hour battery, a charger, and a tool bag. This is a good companion to a Milwaukee drill, and a good addition to a tool set that uses 18-volt Milwaukee batteries—it can drive fasteners with more force than a regular drill, and can help you get through tougher materials like 2x4s more easily. A Ryobi 18-volt cordless drill set with three batteries is on sale for $148.97, 44% off its usual price. This set is an excellent starter set because it comes with a 1.5-amp-hour battery, 1 2-amp-hour battery, and a 4-amp-hour battery as well as a charger. It’s helpful to start a cordless tool set with extra batteries so you can expand your tool kit as you develop your skills and interest without needing to buy new batteries as you go. Best deals on cordless saws and cutting toolsSaws are my favorite part of my tool collection, and having the right one can make any DIY project that much simpler and more fun to work on. Cordless saws have improved as batteries have gotten smaller and lighter as well as developing a longer battery life, so they’re a practical addition to a DIY tool kit—in addition to being fun to use. The Ryobi 18-volt cordless reciprocating saw set is on sale for $99, 65% off its regular price. A reciprocating saw can be used for making rough cuts and trimming trees and shrubs. This set comes with a reciprocating saw, a two-amp-hour battery, a 4-amp-hour battery, and a charger. This is a good tool for someone who already uses Ryobi 18-volt tools, or for someone who likes doing outdoor projects like trimming hedges. Ryobi 18-volt cordless reciprocating saw set $99.00 at Home Depot $282.94 Save $183.94 Get Deal Get Deal $99.00 at Home Depot $282.94 Save $183.94 The Milwaukee 18-volt reciprocating saw is on sale for $199, 68% off its usual price. This is a good tool to add to an 18-volt Milwaukee set, or to begin a yard care and landscaping set. It comes with the saw, two 5-amp-hour batteries, and a charger. The Milwaukee 18-volt, 6 ½-inch cordless circular saw is on sale for $199, 62% off its regular price. This saw comes with two 5-amp-hour batteries and a charger. The larger capacity batteries allow you to use your saw for hours while always having a fresh battery on the charger. The Ryobi 18-volt cordless 7 ¼-inch compound miter saw is on sale for $159, 52% off its regular price. This saw can cut compound angles for trim and woodworking projects without needing to be plugged into an outlet. It comes with a 4-amp-hour battery and charger, which makes it a good addition to a Ryobi cordless tool set, as it can make up to 900 cuts per charge on the battery. Although this saw says it can cut up to 900 times a charge, if you’re working with material thicker than about a quarter of an inch, you’ll want to get a second battery so you can swap them out—in my experience, it can draw more power cutting denser or thicker wood. The Milwaukee 18-volt oscillating multitool set is on sale for $99, 50% off its regular price. It comes with a 1.5-amp-hour battery and a charger. This is the tool that saved my sanity when I was replacing the trap on the sink in my 115-year-old craftsman house. I used it to cut the old pipe, shape the pipe coming out from the wall, trim the new PVC to the correct length, trim out the damaged plaster around the leaking drain, trim out the lath to allow the new trap through, and then I even used it to sand the joints in the plaster repair I made. It’s the hardest-working tool in my home DIY set, and $99 is a great price for it. Best deals on cordless tool combo setsCordless tool sets can be a good way to start a new tool set because they usually come with all the basics as well as a few interesting extras. I started my personal tool kit with an 18-volt Milwaukee set over a decade ago and I also use tools from a DeWalt set at work daily. The Milwaukee 18-volt seven-tool combo set is on sale for $500, 50% off its regular price. It comes with a drill, an impact driver, a circular saw, a one-handed compact reciprocating saw, an oscillating multitoo, an angle-grinder, a work light, two 3-amp-hour batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. This is a comprehensive set that will allow you to tackle most home DIY projects and even some professional level ones as well. The DeWalt three-tool combo set is on sale for $399, 33% off its regular price. This set comes with a drill, a driver, an oscillating multitool, two 6-amp-hour batteries, a charger, and a tool bag. This is a solid set for most home maintenance projects and the batteries will last a long time and stand up to abuse. I use this set at work, these tools are going strong after years of use. 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As a salesperson, grasping psychology can greatly impact your success. Comprehending principles like reciprocity, commitment, and scarcity allows you to influence customer behavior effectively. By applying these techniques, you can improve trust, nurture connections, and create urgency in purchasing decisions. Each principle plays a critical role in shaping customer interactions. To fully leverage these strategies, you’ll need to explore how they work and how to implement them effectively in your sales approach. Key Takeaways Leverage the Reciprocity Principle by providing valuable content or offers to encourage positive responses from potential customers. Utilize the Commitment Principle to secure small agreements that increase the likelihood of larger purchases. Foster connections through the Liking Principle by building rapport and trust with shared interests and active listening. Establish credibility using the Authority Principle by showcasing expertise and utilizing testimonials to reinforce trust. Create urgency with the Scarcity Principle by highlighting limited-time offers and exclusive products to enhance perceived value. The Reciprocity Principle When you understand the reciprocity principle, you can greatly improve your sales strategies. This principle suggests that when you provide value to prospects—like useful information or resources—they’re more likely to feel compelled to reciprocate, often by making a purchase. Rooted in social norms from childhood, people learn to return favors, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Research shows that offering valuable content, advice, or free trials encourages potential customers to respond positively, resulting in genuine leads and improved sales outcomes. Practicing reciprocity creates a cycle of positive interactions, where each act of giving strengthens relationships and increases future sales chances. By aligning your offerings with customer needs, you guarantee that the commitment feels mutual and beneficial, a key aspect of effective principles of selling. The Commitment Principle The Commitment Principle shows how small agreements can greatly influence your decisions. When you make a minor commitment, you start to see yourself in a consistent light, which makes it easier to agree to larger requests later. This connection not merely boosts your likelihood of making further purchases but additionally helps build a sense of trust with the brand you’re engaging with. Small Agreements Impact Decisions Comprehending how small agreements impact decisions is crucial for effective sales strategies. The commitment principle reveals that when customers make minor commitments, they’re 73% more likely to agree to larger requests later. This psychological tendency stems from their desire for consistency in actions and beliefs. By employing techniques like the ‘foot-in-the-door’ method, you can secure small agreements that pave the way for bigger sales. For instance, getting customers to sign up for a newsletter or accept a free trial makes them more inclined to engage with more significant offers. This incremental commitment not only cultivates a positive self-image but also improves the likelihood of compliance with subsequent requests, ultimately increasing your sales success. Consistency and Self-Perception Comprehending how consistency influences self-perception can greatly improve your sales techniques. The commitment principle suggests that once customers make a small commitment, they’re more likely to agree to larger requests later. This happens as they want to see themselves as reliable and consistent individuals. As a salesperson, you should encourage small agreements that lead toward bigger commitments, promoting a positive self-image. When customers engage in minor commitments, they rationalize their actions, feeling obligated to follow through. This psychological difficulty in disengaging increases their likelihood of future purchases. The Liking Principle Liking plays a crucial role in the sales process, influencing how potential customers respond to salespeople. When you connect with clients, they’re more likely to trust you and comply with your requests. To effectively leverage the liking principle, consider these strategies: Build Rapport: Identify common interests or shared experiences with your clients to create a sense of connection. Be Authentic: Engage genuinely with clients; authenticity nurtures trust and improves emotional responses that can lead to sales. Practice Active Listening: Pay attention to your clients’ needs and mirror their body language to promote familiarity and comfort during conversations. The Authority Principle In the competitive terrain of sales, establishing your authority can greatly influence a customer’s decision-making process. The Authority Principle suggests that people are more inclined to follow recommendations when they view the source as credible. You can showcase your expertise by creating thought leadership content, such as white papers and case studies, which demonstrate your knowledge in the field. A well-designed website and strong branding can further improve your perceived authority, making potential customers feel more secure in their choices. Moreover, testimonials and endorsements from industry experts or satisfied clients reinforce your credibility. Research shows that when customers perceive you as an authority, they’re more likely to trust you, reducing their decision-making risk and increasing the likelihood of a purchase. The Social Proof Principle In terms of making a purchase, people often look to others for guidance, which is where the social proof principle comes into play. By showcasing peer influence, familiar endorsements, and the urgency created by popular choices, you can considerably impact a buyer’s decision-making process. Comprehending how to leverage these elements can improve your sales strategy and build trust with potential customers. Peer Influence Dynamics Grasping peer influence dynamics, particularly through the lens of the social proof principle, is critical for salespeople aiming to improve their effectiveness. Recognizing how to leverage social proof can greatly impact your sales strategy. Here are three key aspects to reflect upon: Word-of-Mouth Impact: 88% of individuals trust recommendations from peers, making your customers’ voices fundamental in the purchasing process. Online Reviews: For 84% of Americans, online reviews carry the same weight as personal recommendations, so showcasing positive feedback is imperative. Social Identity: Consumers often prefer products endorsed by their peers to align with group norms, emphasizing the significance of community in marketing. Trust Through Familiarity Trust plays a crucial role in the sales process, and establishing familiarity with customers can greatly increase that trust. By leveraging the social proof principle, you can boost your credibility through testimonials and referrals. Remember, 88% of individuals are influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations, and 84% of Americans trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Strategy Impact Share customer testimonials Builds credibility and reassurance Connect through shared interests Cultivates positive relationships Showcase product popularity Amplifies desirability Establish authority Reduces decision-making uncertainty Incorporating these strategies helps you create authentic interactions, encouraging purchases and nurturing long-term customer relationships. Urgency From Popularity Building on the foundation of trust established through familiarity, urgency can especially improve a customer’s motivation to buy. Utilizing the social proof principle, you can boost your sales strategy by focusing on: Testimonials and Reviews: Since 88% of people are influenced by word-of-mouth, showcasing positive feedback can greatly increase credibility. Popularity Metrics: Highlighting the number of satisfied customers or impressive sales figures creates urgency, prompting quicker decisions. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Emphasizing how many others have purchased or are considering a product can heighten its perceived value, encouraging potential buyers to act fast. The Scarcity Principle Grasping the scarcity principle is essential for salespeople aiming to improve their effectiveness in driving consumer behavior. This principle suggests that consumers view items as more valuable when they’re less available, prompting urgency in purchasing decisions. The fear of missing out (FOMO) serves as a strong psychological trigger, motivating customers to act quickly. By employing marketing strategies that highlight limited-time offers or low inventory levels, you can create a sense of urgency that encourages immediate purchases. Research shows that the pain of loss outweighs the joy of gain, making scarce items particularly appealing. By emphasizing limited editions or exclusive products, you can effectively increase perceived value and boost customer engagement, leveraging scarcity to increase sales. The Unity Principle When you create a cohesive brand message that resonates with your customers’ values and aspirations, you tap into the Unity Principle, which can greatly improve your sales effectiveness. This principle emphasizes the importance of establishing emotional connections through shared values. To leverage the Unity Principle effectively, consider the following: Consistent Messaging: Guarantee your brand communicates a unified message across all platforms, enhancing authenticity. Highlight Common Values: Focus on social responsibility and align with your audience’s ideals, especially for younger consumers. Strengthen Relationships: Cultivate deeper connections by showcasing shared aspirations, which can differentiate you in a competitive market. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Key Points of Selling Psychology? Key points of selling psychology include comprehension that emotions drive 80% of purchasing decisions, so connecting with customers is essential. The principle of reciprocity highlights that providing value can encourage customers to reciprocate. Establishing authority through expertise builds trust, whereas social proof, such as testimonials, influences decisions considerably. Finally, the consistency principle suggests that small commitments can lead to larger agreements, as customers aim to maintain a positive self-image and fulfill their commitments. What Type of Psychology Is Used in Sales? In sales, several types of psychology are utilized to influence buyer behavior. Cognitive psychology helps you simplify information for customers based on their mental processes, whereas social psychology emphasizes the impact of peer recommendations. Behavioral psychology focuses on reinforcing immediate rewards that encourage purchasing. Techniques such as reciprocity and commitment are likewise key; they suggest that providing value or obtaining small commitments increases the likelihood of larger purchases. Comprehending these principles improves your sales effectiveness. What Are the Four Psychological Phases of Sales? The four psychological phases of sales are Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action, often referred to as AIDA. In the Attention phase, you capture the prospect’s focus with engaging content. Next, during Interest, you deepen their engagement through storytelling and relevant information. In the Desire phase, you nurture an emotional connection by highlighting benefits that align with their values. Finally, in the Action phase, you create urgency to encourage the prospect to make a purchase. What Is the Psychology of Selling Things? The psychology of selling involves comprehension of how emotions drive purchasing decisions. Buyers often prioritize feelings over logic, making emotional engagement essential. Key concepts include reciprocity, where offering value encourages positive responses, and commitment, where initial small agreements can lead to larger purchases. Building rapport through the principle of liking promotes connection, as social proof, such as reviews, influences decisions. Furthermore, authority and scarcity improve credibility and urgency, respectively, further impacting buyer behavior. Conclusion Acquiring these seven psychology principles can greatly boost your sales effectiveness. By applying the principles of reciprocity, commitment, liking, authority, social proof, scarcity, and unity, you can build stronger connections with customers, improve your credibility, and create urgency around purchases. Each principle offers a unique strategy to influence buyer behavior and encourage loyalty. Integrating these techniques into your sales approach not merely improves your performance but furthermore helps you cultivate lasting relationships with your clients. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Psychology Principles Every Salesperson Must Master" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

As a salesperson, grasping psychology can greatly impact your success. Comprehending principles like reciprocity, commitment, and scarcity allows you to influence customer behavior effectively. By applying these techniques, you can improve trust, nurture connections, and create urgency in purchasing decisions. Each principle plays a critical role in shaping customer interactions. To fully leverage these strategies, you’ll need to explore how they work and how to implement them effectively in your sales approach. Key Takeaways Leverage the Reciprocity Principle by providing valuable content or offers to encourage positive responses from potential customers. Utilize the Commitment Principle to secure small agreements that increase the likelihood of larger purchases. Foster connections through the Liking Principle by building rapport and trust with shared interests and active listening. Establish credibility using the Authority Principle by showcasing expertise and utilizing testimonials to reinforce trust. Create urgency with the Scarcity Principle by highlighting limited-time offers and exclusive products to enhance perceived value. The Reciprocity Principle When you understand the reciprocity principle, you can greatly improve your sales strategies. This principle suggests that when you provide value to prospects—like useful information or resources—they’re more likely to feel compelled to reciprocate, often by making a purchase. Rooted in social norms from childhood, people learn to return favors, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. Research shows that offering valuable content, advice, or free trials encourages potential customers to respond positively, resulting in genuine leads and improved sales outcomes. Practicing reciprocity creates a cycle of positive interactions, where each act of giving strengthens relationships and increases future sales chances. By aligning your offerings with customer needs, you guarantee that the commitment feels mutual and beneficial, a key aspect of effective principles of selling. The Commitment Principle The Commitment Principle shows how small agreements can greatly influence your decisions. When you make a minor commitment, you start to see yourself in a consistent light, which makes it easier to agree to larger requests later. This connection not merely boosts your likelihood of making further purchases but additionally helps build a sense of trust with the brand you’re engaging with. Small Agreements Impact Decisions Comprehending how small agreements impact decisions is crucial for effective sales strategies. The commitment principle reveals that when customers make minor commitments, they’re 73% more likely to agree to larger requests later. This psychological tendency stems from their desire for consistency in actions and beliefs. By employing techniques like the ‘foot-in-the-door’ method, you can secure small agreements that pave the way for bigger sales. For instance, getting customers to sign up for a newsletter or accept a free trial makes them more inclined to engage with more significant offers. This incremental commitment not only cultivates a positive self-image but also improves the likelihood of compliance with subsequent requests, ultimately increasing your sales success. Consistency and Self-Perception Comprehending how consistency influences self-perception can greatly improve your sales techniques. The commitment principle suggests that once customers make a small commitment, they’re more likely to agree to larger requests later. This happens as they want to see themselves as reliable and consistent individuals. As a salesperson, you should encourage small agreements that lead toward bigger commitments, promoting a positive self-image. When customers engage in minor commitments, they rationalize their actions, feeling obligated to follow through. This psychological difficulty in disengaging increases their likelihood of future purchases. The Liking Principle Liking plays a crucial role in the sales process, influencing how potential customers respond to salespeople. When you connect with clients, they’re more likely to trust you and comply with your requests. To effectively leverage the liking principle, consider these strategies: Build Rapport: Identify common interests or shared experiences with your clients to create a sense of connection. Be Authentic: Engage genuinely with clients; authenticity nurtures trust and improves emotional responses that can lead to sales. Practice Active Listening: Pay attention to your clients’ needs and mirror their body language to promote familiarity and comfort during conversations. The Authority Principle In the competitive terrain of sales, establishing your authority can greatly influence a customer’s decision-making process. The Authority Principle suggests that people are more inclined to follow recommendations when they view the source as credible. You can showcase your expertise by creating thought leadership content, such as white papers and case studies, which demonstrate your knowledge in the field. A well-designed website and strong branding can further improve your perceived authority, making potential customers feel more secure in their choices. Moreover, testimonials and endorsements from industry experts or satisfied clients reinforce your credibility. Research shows that when customers perceive you as an authority, they’re more likely to trust you, reducing their decision-making risk and increasing the likelihood of a purchase. The Social Proof Principle In terms of making a purchase, people often look to others for guidance, which is where the social proof principle comes into play. By showcasing peer influence, familiar endorsements, and the urgency created by popular choices, you can considerably impact a buyer’s decision-making process. Comprehending how to leverage these elements can improve your sales strategy and build trust with potential customers. Peer Influence Dynamics Grasping peer influence dynamics, particularly through the lens of the social proof principle, is critical for salespeople aiming to improve their effectiveness. Recognizing how to leverage social proof can greatly impact your sales strategy. Here are three key aspects to reflect upon: Word-of-Mouth Impact: 88% of individuals trust recommendations from peers, making your customers’ voices fundamental in the purchasing process. Online Reviews: For 84% of Americans, online reviews carry the same weight as personal recommendations, so showcasing positive feedback is imperative. Social Identity: Consumers often prefer products endorsed by their peers to align with group norms, emphasizing the significance of community in marketing. Trust Through Familiarity Trust plays a crucial role in the sales process, and establishing familiarity with customers can greatly increase that trust. By leveraging the social proof principle, you can boost your credibility through testimonials and referrals. Remember, 88% of individuals are influenced by word-of-mouth recommendations, and 84% of Americans trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Strategy Impact Share customer testimonials Builds credibility and reassurance Connect through shared interests Cultivates positive relationships Showcase product popularity Amplifies desirability Establish authority Reduces decision-making uncertainty Incorporating these strategies helps you create authentic interactions, encouraging purchases and nurturing long-term customer relationships. Urgency From Popularity Building on the foundation of trust established through familiarity, urgency can especially improve a customer’s motivation to buy. Utilizing the social proof principle, you can boost your sales strategy by focusing on: Testimonials and Reviews: Since 88% of people are influenced by word-of-mouth, showcasing positive feedback can greatly increase credibility. Popularity Metrics: Highlighting the number of satisfied customers or impressive sales figures creates urgency, prompting quicker decisions. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Emphasizing how many others have purchased or are considering a product can heighten its perceived value, encouraging potential buyers to act fast. The Scarcity Principle Grasping the scarcity principle is essential for salespeople aiming to improve their effectiveness in driving consumer behavior. This principle suggests that consumers view items as more valuable when they’re less available, prompting urgency in purchasing decisions. The fear of missing out (FOMO) serves as a strong psychological trigger, motivating customers to act quickly. By employing marketing strategies that highlight limited-time offers or low inventory levels, you can create a sense of urgency that encourages immediate purchases. Research shows that the pain of loss outweighs the joy of gain, making scarce items particularly appealing. By emphasizing limited editions or exclusive products, you can effectively increase perceived value and boost customer engagement, leveraging scarcity to increase sales. The Unity Principle When you create a cohesive brand message that resonates with your customers’ values and aspirations, you tap into the Unity Principle, which can greatly improve your sales effectiveness. This principle emphasizes the importance of establishing emotional connections through shared values. To leverage the Unity Principle effectively, consider the following: Consistent Messaging: Guarantee your brand communicates a unified message across all platforms, enhancing authenticity. Highlight Common Values: Focus on social responsibility and align with your audience’s ideals, especially for younger consumers. Strengthen Relationships: Cultivate deeper connections by showcasing shared aspirations, which can differentiate you in a competitive market. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Key Points of Selling Psychology? Key points of selling psychology include comprehension that emotions drive 80% of purchasing decisions, so connecting with customers is essential. The principle of reciprocity highlights that providing value can encourage customers to reciprocate. Establishing authority through expertise builds trust, whereas social proof, such as testimonials, influences decisions considerably. Finally, the consistency principle suggests that small commitments can lead to larger agreements, as customers aim to maintain a positive self-image and fulfill their commitments. What Type of Psychology Is Used in Sales? In sales, several types of psychology are utilized to influence buyer behavior. Cognitive psychology helps you simplify information for customers based on their mental processes, whereas social psychology emphasizes the impact of peer recommendations. Behavioral psychology focuses on reinforcing immediate rewards that encourage purchasing. Techniques such as reciprocity and commitment are likewise key; they suggest that providing value or obtaining small commitments increases the likelihood of larger purchases. Comprehending these principles improves your sales effectiveness. What Are the Four Psychological Phases of Sales? The four psychological phases of sales are Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action, often referred to as AIDA. In the Attention phase, you capture the prospect’s focus with engaging content. Next, during Interest, you deepen their engagement through storytelling and relevant information. In the Desire phase, you nurture an emotional connection by highlighting benefits that align with their values. Finally, in the Action phase, you create urgency to encourage the prospect to make a purchase. What Is the Psychology of Selling Things? The psychology of selling involves comprehension of how emotions drive purchasing decisions. Buyers often prioritize feelings over logic, making emotional engagement essential. Key concepts include reciprocity, where offering value encourages positive responses, and commitment, where initial small agreements can lead to larger purchases. Building rapport through the principle of liking promotes connection, as social proof, such as reviews, influences decisions. Furthermore, authority and scarcity improve credibility and urgency, respectively, further impacting buyer behavior. Conclusion Acquiring these seven psychology principles can greatly boost your sales effectiveness. By applying the principles of reciprocity, commitment, liking, authority, social proof, scarcity, and unity, you can build stronger connections with customers, improve your credibility, and create urgency around purchases. Each principle offers a unique strategy to influence buyer behavior and encourage loyalty. Integrating these techniques into your sales approach not merely improves your performance but furthermore helps you cultivate lasting relationships with your clients. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Psychology Principles Every Salesperson Must Master" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Picture the scene. You’ve advertised a job on LinkedIn and received applications from around Europe. The perfect candidate lives in one of the world’s top tech cities—Paris, Berlin, or Amsterdam, for instance. Your company is based somewhere in Europe, so hiring them should be easy, right? Unfortunately, no. Despite their geographical proximity, countries in Europe still vary significantly in their hiring rules and regulations, making it hard to compliantly pay cross-border workers. Let’s take a closer look at the problem. So close, yet so far There’s naturally a certain amount of friction in terms of labor law compatibility between European states inside and outside of the European Union (EU). But even within the umbrella of the EU, countries have their own labor, tax, and social security rules that can turn simple payroll procedures into a nightmare. That’s because EU labor law is issued via directives that allow member states discretion in how they implement rulings. For businesses, this makes an EU-wide hiring strategy impossible, instead requiring individual approaches to each and every country a company might want to hire in—up to and including incorporation. This isn’t something that can be done as an afterthought. Misclassifying a worker, for instance by employing someone as a contractor rather than an employee, may lead to penalties and legal trouble. The state of cross-border hiring in Europe Despite the difficulties, businesses continue to hire across borders for the simple reason that talent is getting harder to find locally. One report found that 54% of European employers expect labour shortages to worsen over the next five years. And a patchwork of talent availability means skills and the businesses that need them are rarely in the same place—forcing businesses to look elsewhere. But hiring across borders isn’t getting easier. While the demand for specialized ​​​​talent has increased by 112% over the last three years, the complexity of hiring talent has also increased—particularly in the EU, with incoming requirements like the pay transparency directive. The movement of workers between countries is also a minefield. Under EU rules, employees can only be subject to one country’s social security requirements at a time (to avoid double contributions). Some countries have cross-border agreements but employee tax exposure can be hard to fully comprehend, even for the experts. Here’s what that looks like in practice A London startup wants to hire its first engineer in Berlin. Expanding into a new European talent market means a costly and months-long process of establishing a business entity—all to justify a headcount of one. How about a Dutch company trying to support an employee relocating to Spain? The employer wants to be supportive, but there are clear tax residency and other legal implications such as pay transparency that have to be explored. The difficulty of navigating these all-too-common issues is putting a roadblock on progress and forcing businesses to compromise on quality by hiring in their own backyards. The problem with payroll Despite most companies having employees in more than one country, the means of paying them continue to lag behind. Payroll (often the largest expense for a company at around 50-60% of spending) has historically been seen as a back-office burden. Payroll is an essential cost of business, but because of all the challenges we’ve discussed, it’s expensive, complex, and generally fails to add strategic value. When you’re running payroll across borders, the complexity only goes up. Indeed, 85% of global executives say compliance requirements have become more complex in the last three years. In short, it’s all risk and no reward. The right software can help In response to the expanding global workforce, more workforce management companies are developing software designed to help companies hire and pay European workers without the burden of navigating complex administrative requirements. My company, Multiplier, offers one of these solutions. As a centralized platform for payroll operations, our payroll solution enables companies to pay employees in countries where they don’t have a legal entity, fully compliant with local tax and social security rules. This would allow the London startup discussed earlier to hire its first engineer in Berlin without the delay and expense of incorporation in Germany. And if things don’t work out, the startup won’t have to go through the rigmarole of shutting down an entity in Berlin afterwards. Similarly, the Dutch company with a marketer who relocated to Spain doesn’t have to worry about the tax residency implications and potential penalties. They can seamlessly support their employees without disrupting their existing payroll compliance efforts. Unlocking European talent Paying people across borders is a problem unlikely to be solved politically. In an increasingly multipolar world, there’s little prospect of the increased regulatory alignment necessary to enable seamless international payments. In the meantime, payroll solutions will help remove the friction required to pay cross-border workers, helping companies to accelerate their growth and recruit the best European talent—instead of settling for the best available talent locally. Sagar Khatri is CEO and cofounder of Multiplier. 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. A price drop always stands out more when the product in question already has a reputation for delivering above its size, and that’s the case with the Bose SoundLink Plus. It hasn’t been on the market for long, but it’s already earned strong reviews—CNET even labeled it “the Goldilocks of Bose Bluetooth speakers.” And right now, ahead of Black Friday, it’s down to $199 from $269, which price trackers show is the lowest it’s ever been. Bose SoundLink Plus Portable Bluetooth Speaker $199.00 at Amazon $269.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Get Deal $199.00 at Amazon $269.00 Save $70.00 Bose positions it right in the middle of the SoundLink lineup, and you feel that balance in how it’s built. It’s compact enough to clip onto a backpack using its built-in nylon strap, tough enough to handle getting knocked around, and sealed against dust and full water submersion with an IP67 rating. Battery life can last up to 20 hours, depending on the volume, which is sufficient for full-day outings. However, the roughly five-hour recharge time means it’s better to charge it overnight than rely on a quick boost. On the connectivity side, there’s Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC and AptX Adaptive support, as well as the ability to keep two devices paired for smoother switching. What you don’t get is a microphone, aux port, or any voice assistant support, which might matter if you prefer wired options or use speakers for calls. The sound profile of this Bluetooth speaker leans into mid- and high-bass, which gives electronic and pop tracks a lively pulse without turning everything muddy. It doesn’t reach into true low-bass territory, so anyone who wants thumping sub-bass may not get it here, but the punch it does deliver feels clean for its size. Vocals sit a little behind the beat in denser tracks because the mid-range pulls back slightly, though you can adjust this with the app’s EQ tools. It’s also worth knowing that the speaker plays everything in mono, so you lose the space and width you’d hear in a stereo mix, but its directivity is good—you don’t have to stand directly in front of it to hear things clearly. That said, at higher volumes, there’s some compression, which is common in speakers this size. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $219.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $279.99 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248.00 (List Price $399.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Wireless Security Camera (5-Pack) — $159.99 (List Price $399.99) Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus 1080p Security Camera (White) — $99.99 (List Price $179.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 (List Price $49.99) NEW Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $298.00 (List Price $429.00) Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base — $249.99 (List Price $599.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $349.99 (List Price $399.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

The President's remarks — made in a joking tone — come amid increased pressure on the administration from voters to lower the cost of living.

The economy added an unexpectedly robust 119,000 jobs in September, though unemployment edged up to 4.4%. The report, delayed by the federal government shutdown, continues a trend of sluggish job growth in recent months. View the full article

Home secretary says ‘brightest and best’ will be fast-tracked while others will have to wait up to 30 yearsView the full article

Microsoft is the latest tech giant to announce its new return-to-work (RTO) mandate. The first phase of the mandate is set to start in February 2026, requiring Seattle-area employees living within a 50 miles radius of a Microsoft office will need to be in office at least three days a week. Over the next year, the company expects the same from the rest of its U.S. and international employees. Microsoft was one of the last big companies to offer their workforce flexibility. Competitors like Google, Meta, Amazon, Zoom, and AT&T have all announced their own unique policies requiring workers to be in the office. These are all innovative, technology-led companies. Yet their RTO mandates and hybrid work policies are all supremely outdated. Instead of honestly considering what the future of work means for employees and how it can benefit companies, many leaders are scared that if employees are allowed to work from anywhere, they will lose a bit of control over their workforce. Real leaders are embracing the future. At Gather, we recognize that flexibility is the key to accessing higher tier talent, bigger clients, and ultimately better business outcomes. Change of mindset Once upon a time, CEOs were huge fans of working from home. Many notable business leaders are on record stating the benefits of working from home from a business, personal, and even a societal level. Mark Zuckerberg famously said, “I’ve found that working remotely has given me more space for long-term thinking and helped me spend more time with my family, which has made me happier and more productive at work.” Why the sudden shift? These RTO mandates aren’t to “build culture” or “increase productivity” or any of the other canned responses. Instead, many companies are locked into long-term leases on office spaces in cities all across the country. For decades, a 10-year lease for office space was the norm for large corporations. It kept rent costs stable and allowed companies to set up roots in major hubs across the nation. When companies signed these leases, it was a smart move. Then came the pandemic. People were forced to work from home. Large office spaces weren’t just unnecessary; they became a hazard for employee safety. All work shifted to remote work, and the results spoke for themselves. A study from the U.S. Career Institute found that companies can save up to $10,600 per employee who works remotely and remote work can have a positive impact on an employee’s mental and physical health. Countering many productivity claims, the study also found that 79% of managers feel their team is more productive when working remotely. RTO does more harm than good Fast forward a few years post-pandemic, and these long-term leases still exist. Despite all the benefits seen from remote work, companies are desperate to justify their massive spends on office space. So, employees are coerced to get their butts back in seats with rigid mandates bolstered by claims of “productivity.” These mandates have already demonstrated a negative impact on employees and businesses alike. There is little evidence that RTO mandates improve a company’s financial performance, according to an MIT Sloan Management Review article. RTO mandates disrupt employee’s established positive work routines, leading to higher attrition, especially among high-performing employees and those with caregiving responsibilities—another strike against corporate America and its record with women in the workforce. What’s more, RTO mandates often function as thinly veiled layoffs, further increasing attrition and the exodus of top talent while decreasing trust. A recent study from Workways found that 71% of HR leaders report eroded trust post-RTO announcements and 80% of companies lost talent because of the mandates. Even if returning to the office actually increased productivity, to make the terms of returning so inflexible disregards the way people work. Even when these mandates are classified as “hybrid” and only require a few days in the office, companies are missing the point. To be truly productive requires flexibility and agility. A new definition of hybrid In 2025, defining hybrid work must go well beyond the outdated discussion of where work is being done. Hybrid must be multifaceted. Companies need to approach hybrid work by considering which projects and teams come together for collaborative roles and which need the privacy and focus of working independently—and recognizing that those parameters can change depending on project demands. It is a balance of people, places, tools, and culture. To be clear, I’m not anti-office. There is a time and a place for bolstering corporate culture and collaboration. However, the decision should not be made by executives in an ivory tower but by team leaders based on the needs of their teams. RTO mandates will continue to make headlines for the rest of this year and any time a major company announces its new policy. But, as these long-term leases diminish, let’s see how many mandates remain. The debate is not and has never been about the RTO mandates themselves. The real debate is on the future of work and what that looks and feels like for leaders. The pandemic made it clear: Companies are perfectly capable of adapting to the wants and needs of the workforce when forced to do so. The real future of work isn’t about office space, water cooler talk, or butts in seats. It is rooted in trust, respect, and readiness to embrace change. The leaders that follow this path will set their companies up for success, winning the battle for talent and performance. Justin Tobin is founder and president of Gather. 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. I've reviewed a ton of high-tech smart glasses for Lifehacker, and this early Black Friday deal on the RayNeo Air 3s Pro display glasses is excellent. They are on sale for $249 on Amazon (originally $299) until Dec. 1. RayNeo Air 3s $269.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $269.00 at Amazon If you're not familiar, these smart glasses basically put a high-definition display in your pocket, projecting the equivalent of a 201-inch TV in front of your face—so if someone on your list is tech-inclined and you want to blast 'em with a pure "whoa" present, here you go. They'll even fit in a stocking. There are other glasses that do the same thing, but the Ray Neo Air 3 Pro hit a nice sweet spot between inexpensive and good quality. Check out my review if you want to read about these glasses in more depth, but the bottom line is: if you want to make every flight you'll ever take better or stream videos and games in private, these glasses will do the trick. Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Cancelling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds — $219.99 (List Price $249.00) Apple iPad 11" 128GB A16 WiFi Tablet (Blue, 2025) — $279.99 (List Price $349.00) Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99) Sony WH-1000XM5 — $248.00 (List Price $399.99) Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Wireless Security Camera (5-Pack) — $159.99 (List Price $399.99) Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus 1080p Security Camera (White) — $99.99 (List Price $179.99) Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus — $24.99 (List Price $49.99) NEW Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $298.00 (List Price $429.00) Shark AI Ultra Matrix Clean Mapping Voice Control Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base — $249.99 (List Price $599.00) Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band) — $349.99 (List Price $399.00) Deals are selected by our commerce team View the full article

Figure complicates Fed decision on rates next monthView the full article

Creating an impactful business plan presentation requires careful consideration of several key elements. You need to start with a thorough review of your plan, ensuring clarity in your mission and vision. Engaging your audience is essential, so telling a compelling story can make your points resonate. Moreover, using high-quality visuals helps convey complex information effectively. Comprehending your audience and anticipating their questions will further improve your delivery. Let’s explore these strategies in detail to strengthen your presentation skills. Key Takeaways Begin with a strong mission and vision to establish the purpose of your business plan. Utilize compelling storytelling and real-life examples to illustrate the problem and solution. Incorporate high-quality visuals like charts and graphs to enhance understanding and retention. Engage your audience with eye contact, varied vocal tones, and encourage interaction through questions. Anticipate potential questions and prepare detailed responses to demonstrate knowledge and confidence. Start With a Review of Your Business Plan When you start your business plan presentation, it’s essential to begin with a clear review of your business plan, as this sets the foundation for your audience’s comprehension. Start by summarizing your mission and vision, articulating your core purpose. Next, outline key components like your target market, competitive environment, and unique selling propositions that set you apart. Highlight important financial projections, such as expected revenue growth and timelines for profitability, to illustrate your financial viability. Address customer pain points, explaining how your business model offers effective solutions. Finally, conclude with a brief overview of your marketing and sales strategies, showcasing how they’ll drive your company’s success. Utilize business presentation templates and a company profile PPT to improve clarity and engagement. Tell a Story Telling a story during your business plan presentation can greatly improve your audience’s comprehension and interest in your proposal. Start by crafting a compelling narrative that clearly illustrates the problem your business aims to solve. Make sure it resonates with your audience’s experiences. Consider using real-life examples or testimonials to highlight customer pain points and demonstrate the impact of your solution. Organize your story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, guiding your audience through an experience that culminates in the value of your business proposition. Incorporate effective business presentation themes and a structured company profile presentation to keep your audience engaged. Finally, conclude with a strong call to action that motivates them to support or invest in your business. Use Visuals Using visuals in your business plan presentation is essential for effectively communicating your ideas and engaging your audience. High-quality images, infographics, and charts can make complex information more digestible. For instance, visuals can boost retention of key metrics by up to 65%. To maintain a professional appearance, use a consistent color scheme and font style throughout your business presentation PowerPoint template. Limit text to key points since audiences retain only about 10% of written information. Visual aids, like product demos or videos, showcase your offerings and clarify your product’s value proposition. Visual Elements Benefits Tips High-Quality Images Boost comprehension Use relevant, clear images Charts and Graphs Improve retention Keep them simple Product Demos/Videos Engage audience Highlight key features Use Large, Easy to Read Font A clear and legible font is crucial in any business plan presentation, as it helps guarantee that your audience can easily read and understand the information you’re sharing. Aim for a font size of at least 24 points for body text and 36 points or larger for headings, ensuring readability across different screen sizes. Stick to one or two font styles, preferably a sans-serif font, to maintain a professional look in your business presentation layout. High-contrast color combinations, like dark text on a light background, improve visibility and reduce eye strain. Avoid overly decorative fonts that can distract from your message. Utilizing free business PowerPoint templates can help you apply these principles effectively during time-saving moments. Research Who You’re Presenting To Researching who you’re presenting to is essential for crafting a presentation that resonates with your audience. Comprehending their demographics, interests, and professional backgrounds will help tailor your business presentation effectively. Knowing the funding history and investment preferences of potential investors allows you to customize your ask appropriately. Furthermore, familiarizing yourself with the competitive environment relevant to your audience demonstrates your awareness of industry trends. Audience Aspect Importance Strategy Demographics Increases engagement Tailor content to interests Professional Background Aligns proposal with expertise Address specific concerns Funding Preferences Customizes financial ask Justify projections Cultural Context Influences perception Adapt marketing strategies Using a company PowerPoint template free can similarly improve your presentation’s professionalism. Anticipate Questions When preparing for your business plan presentation, anticipate the questions your audience might ask. Common inquiries often focus on financial projections, market analysis, and the competitive environment, so it’s essential to prepare detailed responses. Common Audience Inquiries How well can you anticipate questions from your audience during a business plan presentation? Being prepared for common inquiries can set you apart. Expect questions about your business model, revenue generation, and long-term profitability. Investors typically want to know the size and characteristics of your target market, in addition to how your offering stands out in a competitive environment. They’ll likely ask about your financial projections, including sales growth and funding needs. Furthermore, be ready to discuss your team’s experience in executing the business plan effectively. Common Questions Your Prepared Responses How will you generate revenue? Outline your revenue streams. What’s your market size? Provide market research data. Who’s on your team? Highlight team qualifications. Prepare Detailed Responses Anticipating questions during your business plan presentation is fundamental for demonstrating your preparedness and expertise. Think about potential inquiries related to financial projections, market analysis, and competitive positioning. Prepare detailed responses for these common questions, like your rationale behind revenue forecasts or customer acquisition costs. Familiarize yourself with every aspect of your business plan to answer confidently, reinforcing your credibility. Consider creating a FAQ slide using business powerpoint templates or free business ppt templates to proactively address anticipated questions, which encourages further discussion on complex topics. Finally, practice delivering concise, data-backed answers to maintain clarity and keep your audience engaged throughout the presentation. This preparation will improve your overall impact and effectiveness. Practice Your Delivery Practicing your delivery is crucial for a successful business presentation, as it not just helps you become more familiar with your material but likewise allows you to refine your overall performance. Rehearse multiple times to achieve a natural flow and identify improvement areas. Aim for a 10-20 slide company presentation, guaranteeing you stay within the allotted timeframe. Practice in front of a test audience to gain constructive feedback. Familiarize yourself with shifts between slides for smooth progression, and limit reliance on notes to boost confidence and engagement. Practice Tip Description Rehearse Multiple Times Guarantees familiarity and identifies weak areas. Time Your Delivery Keeps you within the allotted presentation time. Test Audience Feedback Provides insights on clarity and style. Frequently Asked Questions How to Structure a Business Plan Presentation? To structure a business plan presentation, start with a title slide that features your business name and logo. Follow this with slides that cover the Problem, Solution, Market, Business Model, Competition, Team, and Financial Projections. Keep your content concise and clear across 10-12 slides to maintain engagement. Use visuals like graphs and charts to improve comprehension. Finally, conclude with a strong call to action, specifying what you want from the audience. What Are the 7 Parts of a Business Plan? The seven parts of a business plan include the Executive Summary, which outlines your business goals, and the Market Analysis, detailing your target audience and competition. Next, the Business Model explains how you’ll generate revenue, whereas the Marketing and Sales Strategy describes customer acquisition methods. Financial Projections provide income statements and forecasts. The Operations Plan outlines daily processes, and the Team section highlights key members’ skills. Finally, the Appendix supports your plan with additional documents. What Are the Tips for Creating a Successful Business Presentation Slide? To create a successful business presentation slide, start with a clear structure of 10-12 slides to keep your audience engaged. Use visuals and infographics to improve comprehension, as they can greatly boost retention. Limit text to bullet points, keeping it concise with no more than six lines per slide. Choose contrasting colors for better visibility, and practice your delivery to guarantee clarity and confidence during your presentation. Which Is the Correct Advice for Presenting a Detailed Business Plan? When presenting a detailed business plan, focus on clarity and engagement. Start with a strong introduction, outlining your business idea and its relevance. Clearly define the problem you’re addressing, followed by your proposed solution. Include financial projections with key metrics to showcase viability. Limit your slides to 10-12 for conciseness, and conclude with a clear call to action, detailing the funding needed and its intended use for growth. Conclusion In summary, delivering an impactful business plan presentation requires careful preparation and a strategic approach. By reviewing your plan, telling a compelling story, utilizing visuals, and comprehending your audience, you can effectively communicate your vision. Anticipating questions and practicing your delivery further improves your presentation’s clarity and confidence. Remember, engaging your audience through eye contact and varied vocal tones can make a significant difference. Following up with handouts and thank-you emails helps maintain engagement and cultivates lasting connections. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Tips for an Impactful Business Plan Presentation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Creating an impactful business plan presentation requires careful consideration of several key elements. You need to start with a thorough review of your plan, ensuring clarity in your mission and vision. Engaging your audience is essential, so telling a compelling story can make your points resonate. Moreover, using high-quality visuals helps convey complex information effectively. Comprehending your audience and anticipating their questions will further improve your delivery. Let’s explore these strategies in detail to strengthen your presentation skills. Key Takeaways Begin with a strong mission and vision to establish the purpose of your business plan. Utilize compelling storytelling and real-life examples to illustrate the problem and solution. Incorporate high-quality visuals like charts and graphs to enhance understanding and retention. Engage your audience with eye contact, varied vocal tones, and encourage interaction through questions. Anticipate potential questions and prepare detailed responses to demonstrate knowledge and confidence. Start With a Review of Your Business Plan When you start your business plan presentation, it’s essential to begin with a clear review of your business plan, as this sets the foundation for your audience’s comprehension. Start by summarizing your mission and vision, articulating your core purpose. Next, outline key components like your target market, competitive environment, and unique selling propositions that set you apart. Highlight important financial projections, such as expected revenue growth and timelines for profitability, to illustrate your financial viability. Address customer pain points, explaining how your business model offers effective solutions. Finally, conclude with a brief overview of your marketing and sales strategies, showcasing how they’ll drive your company’s success. Utilize business presentation templates and a company profile PPT to improve clarity and engagement. Tell a Story Telling a story during your business plan presentation can greatly improve your audience’s comprehension and interest in your proposal. Start by crafting a compelling narrative that clearly illustrates the problem your business aims to solve. Make sure it resonates with your audience’s experiences. Consider using real-life examples or testimonials to highlight customer pain points and demonstrate the impact of your solution. Organize your story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, guiding your audience through an experience that culminates in the value of your business proposition. Incorporate effective business presentation themes and a structured company profile presentation to keep your audience engaged. Finally, conclude with a strong call to action that motivates them to support or invest in your business. Use Visuals Using visuals in your business plan presentation is essential for effectively communicating your ideas and engaging your audience. High-quality images, infographics, and charts can make complex information more digestible. For instance, visuals can boost retention of key metrics by up to 65%. To maintain a professional appearance, use a consistent color scheme and font style throughout your business presentation PowerPoint template. Limit text to key points since audiences retain only about 10% of written information. Visual aids, like product demos or videos, showcase your offerings and clarify your product’s value proposition. Visual Elements Benefits Tips High-Quality Images Boost comprehension Use relevant, clear images Charts and Graphs Improve retention Keep them simple Product Demos/Videos Engage audience Highlight key features Use Large, Easy to Read Font A clear and legible font is crucial in any business plan presentation, as it helps guarantee that your audience can easily read and understand the information you’re sharing. Aim for a font size of at least 24 points for body text and 36 points or larger for headings, ensuring readability across different screen sizes. Stick to one or two font styles, preferably a sans-serif font, to maintain a professional look in your business presentation layout. High-contrast color combinations, like dark text on a light background, improve visibility and reduce eye strain. Avoid overly decorative fonts that can distract from your message. Utilizing free business PowerPoint templates can help you apply these principles effectively during time-saving moments. Research Who You’re Presenting To Researching who you’re presenting to is essential for crafting a presentation that resonates with your audience. Comprehending their demographics, interests, and professional backgrounds will help tailor your business presentation effectively. Knowing the funding history and investment preferences of potential investors allows you to customize your ask appropriately. Furthermore, familiarizing yourself with the competitive environment relevant to your audience demonstrates your awareness of industry trends. Audience Aspect Importance Strategy Demographics Increases engagement Tailor content to interests Professional Background Aligns proposal with expertise Address specific concerns Funding Preferences Customizes financial ask Justify projections Cultural Context Influences perception Adapt marketing strategies Using a company PowerPoint template free can similarly improve your presentation’s professionalism. Anticipate Questions When preparing for your business plan presentation, anticipate the questions your audience might ask. Common inquiries often focus on financial projections, market analysis, and the competitive environment, so it’s essential to prepare detailed responses. Common Audience Inquiries How well can you anticipate questions from your audience during a business plan presentation? Being prepared for common inquiries can set you apart. Expect questions about your business model, revenue generation, and long-term profitability. Investors typically want to know the size and characteristics of your target market, in addition to how your offering stands out in a competitive environment. They’ll likely ask about your financial projections, including sales growth and funding needs. Furthermore, be ready to discuss your team’s experience in executing the business plan effectively. Common Questions Your Prepared Responses How will you generate revenue? Outline your revenue streams. What’s your market size? Provide market research data. Who’s on your team? Highlight team qualifications. Prepare Detailed Responses Anticipating questions during your business plan presentation is fundamental for demonstrating your preparedness and expertise. Think about potential inquiries related to financial projections, market analysis, and competitive positioning. Prepare detailed responses for these common questions, like your rationale behind revenue forecasts or customer acquisition costs. Familiarize yourself with every aspect of your business plan to answer confidently, reinforcing your credibility. Consider creating a FAQ slide using business powerpoint templates or free business ppt templates to proactively address anticipated questions, which encourages further discussion on complex topics. Finally, practice delivering concise, data-backed answers to maintain clarity and keep your audience engaged throughout the presentation. This preparation will improve your overall impact and effectiveness. Practice Your Delivery Practicing your delivery is crucial for a successful business presentation, as it not just helps you become more familiar with your material but likewise allows you to refine your overall performance. Rehearse multiple times to achieve a natural flow and identify improvement areas. Aim for a 10-20 slide company presentation, guaranteeing you stay within the allotted timeframe. Practice in front of a test audience to gain constructive feedback. Familiarize yourself with shifts between slides for smooth progression, and limit reliance on notes to boost confidence and engagement. Practice Tip Description Rehearse Multiple Times Guarantees familiarity and identifies weak areas. Time Your Delivery Keeps you within the allotted presentation time. Test Audience Feedback Provides insights on clarity and style. Frequently Asked Questions How to Structure a Business Plan Presentation? To structure a business plan presentation, start with a title slide that features your business name and logo. Follow this with slides that cover the Problem, Solution, Market, Business Model, Competition, Team, and Financial Projections. Keep your content concise and clear across 10-12 slides to maintain engagement. Use visuals like graphs and charts to improve comprehension. Finally, conclude with a strong call to action, specifying what you want from the audience. What Are the 7 Parts of a Business Plan? The seven parts of a business plan include the Executive Summary, which outlines your business goals, and the Market Analysis, detailing your target audience and competition. Next, the Business Model explains how you’ll generate revenue, whereas the Marketing and Sales Strategy describes customer acquisition methods. Financial Projections provide income statements and forecasts. The Operations Plan outlines daily processes, and the Team section highlights key members’ skills. Finally, the Appendix supports your plan with additional documents. What Are the Tips for Creating a Successful Business Presentation Slide? To create a successful business presentation slide, start with a clear structure of 10-12 slides to keep your audience engaged. Use visuals and infographics to improve comprehension, as they can greatly boost retention. Limit text to bullet points, keeping it concise with no more than six lines per slide. Choose contrasting colors for better visibility, and practice your delivery to guarantee clarity and confidence during your presentation. Which Is the Correct Advice for Presenting a Detailed Business Plan? When presenting a detailed business plan, focus on clarity and engagement. Start with a strong introduction, outlining your business idea and its relevance. Clearly define the problem you’re addressing, followed by your proposed solution. Include financial projections with key metrics to showcase viability. Limit your slides to 10-12 for conciseness, and conclude with a clear call to action, detailing the funding needed and its intended use for growth. Conclusion In summary, delivering an impactful business plan presentation requires careful preparation and a strategic approach. By reviewing your plan, telling a compelling story, utilizing visuals, and comprehending your audience, you can effectively communicate your vision. Anticipating questions and practicing your delivery further improves your presentation’s clarity and confidence. Remember, engaging your audience through eye contact and varied vocal tones can make a significant difference. Following up with handouts and thank-you emails helps maintain engagement and cultivates lasting connections. Image via Google Gemini This article, "7 Tips for an Impactful Business Plan Presentation" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

In recent conversations with customers and peers, I’m not hearing “Which AI model or tool should we pick?” I’m hearing “How do we operationalize AI across our critical workflows?” People are starting to understand real digital transformation doesn’t come from a bolt-on solution. It happens when we treat AI as a foundational force and an engine for lasting change. The shift toward an AI-powered workplace requires leaders to enable organizational intelligence across the enterprise. WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL INTELLIGENCE? At Wrike, we define organizational intelligence as the seamless integration of human insight and AI capabilities to drive measurable outcomes at increased speed and scale. It’s the difference between patchwork AI adoption and true collaboration between humans and machines. Done right, organizational intelligence blends human creativity, judgment, context, and intent with AI’s strength in driving automation, data synthesis, and pattern recognition. When all of that is present at the same time, AI stops being a feature and evolves into a core part of how a business learns. Unlocking organizational intelligence goes beyond a change in mindset, although that’s key, too. R “Ray” Wang, CEO of Constellation Research, who I sat down with recently, said everyone is avoiding doing the “hard part” right now—the data strategy. But how we handle and manage data is equally critical to getting AI transformation right, alongside culture adjustments, and our enthusiasm toward the technology. Organizations require a robust foundation for data. This includes designing, structuring, and connecting information so AI can interpret not just isolated facts, but the full business context and meaning behind them. WHY AI ALONE ISN’T THE ANSWER While business leaders race to bring on AI tools, adoption has often outpaced ROI. McKinsey reports that while a vast majority of companies plan to increase AI investments (92%), only about 1% of leaders say their organizations have reached true AI maturity, where AI is fully integrated and yielding substantial outcomes. Many popular AI solutions solve isolated problems, automating individual tasks without addressing deeper needs for team alignment, context, and strategy. Instead of outcome-driven decision-making, organizations end up with more fragmentation. Disconnected automations, inconsistent data, and siloed workflows compound inefficiencies. Recent Wrike research found that 41% of knowledge workers said their companies lost critical information in the past year due to scattered systems and siloed knowledge across platforms. That’s not a technology failure. It’s an organizational one and a leadership oversight that can limit company growth. 3 PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE ORGANIZATIONAL INTELLIGENCE Think of the project manager juggling four different collaboration platforms, each with partial information. AI introduced in that environment won’t spark clarity. It will multiply the noise. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to move our organizations beyond tool adoption and toward systemic intelligence: connecting people, processes, and platforms into a unified whole. That requires rewiring the way we work and rethinking how we manage data, context, and collaboration. Three principles stand out to me: 1. Build foundation over features Chasing the newest AI tool can be tempting, but fragmented adoption creates the illusion of scale without delivering true capability. Prioritize a unified foundation where AI can plug in, learn, and operate effectively by clearly documenting and standardizing workflows, improving data hygiene, and consolidating the supporting platforms to drive visibility and ownership. The question to ask isn’t “What tool are we adopting?” but “What system are we building?” 2. Make context your competitive edge AI can’t read between the lines if there are no lines to read between. Too often, critical knowledge lives in meeting notes, hallway conversations, or in the minds of employees. Without this context, AI produces generic outputs that lack trust and relevance. Leaders must operationalize context, as well as embed decision rationales, project outcomes, and other institutional knowledge into workflows. This may come in the form of structured fields for project outcomes, standardized post-mortems, or AI agents trained on your organization’s language and workflows. In a market where business advantage often depends on nuance such as customer preferences, regulatory shifts, and competitive signals, context may be the single sharpest edge we as leaders can champion. 3. Reframe ai as a multiplier, not a shortcut AI should accelerate human creativity, critical thinking, and connection, not bypass them. This requires leaders to redefine roles: What must humans own, and where can AI extend their reach? Trust and governance are also non-negotiable. Teams will only adopt AI if they know security and ethics are protected. Leaders who ignore these responsibilities risk stalling adoption before it even begins. THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE CONNECTED Moving forward, organizations that thrive won’t be defined by the size of their AI stack. They’ll be known for how intelligently they connect teams, workflows, and outcomes so the enterprise learns and improves with every project. Companies that link people, processes, and platforms into a single intelligent system will adapt faster, innovate more effectively, and build resilience in a rapidly changing environment. Leaders who prioritize organizational intelligence now are setting the stage for these long-term advantages. Your true differentiator isn’t AI alone. It’s connection, context, and the combined capacity of humans and machines to learn together within a shared system of record for work. Tom Scott is the CEO at Wrike. View the full article

You know it's important to prioritize your to-do list, and may have tried various methods to do so, from the Eisenhower Matrix (to determine how timely and urgent each task is), to the Pareto principle (to decide how to allocate your time to maximize your results). The problem is that determining what's actually a priority can be an abstract problem. Some people work best when dealing with cold, hard numbers—and there's a way to take a more quantitative approach to prioritizing your to-dos. Why prioritize your to-do list?The Pareto principle, mentioned above, suggests that 80% of your results will come from 20% of your work, so you have to be picky about what you focus on. Plus, there’s only so much you can do in a day, so the best to-do list for you may be a narrow one—say, with room for one major activity, three medium-sized ones, and five little ones (known as a 1-3-5 list). If you try to do too much, your productivity can take a hit. (That’s Illich’s Law, baby.) To avoid doing too much or working on the wrong things, you need a strategy, and to form a strategy, you need to do some planning. The Eisenhower matrix can be useful as you figure out which tasks have looming deadlines, but it’s a subjective tool. Assigning numbers to your tasks can make it all feel more data-driven. How to turn your to-do list into dataI encountered this tip in a blog post from consultant and strategist Daniel Coulton Shaw, who breaks down how to number your tasks so they align with the Pareto principle. First, write down everything you need to get done in the foreseeable future, as you would in the early stages of making a 1-3-5 list. Next, assign each task two numbers, both of which will be between 1 and 10. The first number is for the effort required, and the second is for the project's impact. For example, answering all your emails may get a 3 for effort, but could yield results in the 7 territory. Finishing a report on a meeting could be a 6 in effort, but a 2 in results. Picking up meds at the pharmacy could be a 2 in effort, or a 7, depending how hard it is to get there, but a 4 in results, or even a 10, depending on how important the prescription is. This part is subjective too, to a degree, but even thinking about your tasks in terms of “effort” and “results” will help you grasp their seriousness—and we’re not done yet. Next, divide each task's “results” number by its “effort” number. So, if answering emails is a 7 on the results scale and a 3 in effort, you’re looking at a 2.33 overall score. Once all your tasks have been assigned a score, you can rank them in ascending order and aim to tackle them in that order, unless something extra timely comes along. By doing this, you’ll knock out the tasks that are important but low effort—which should be that 20% of work that comprises 80% of your results. What to keep in mindSomething that is a 6 in effort and 2 in results might not make it high up on your list, but could become more urgent as time goes on. Don't forget to think about timeliness when you're plotting. If you have a test in four weeks, obviously the effort and results are going to be high and you're going to want to study, but give yourself the wiggle room of remembering you do have a whole month, so other less pressing tasks might need to come first. Cleaning your room might be high effort and low results when it's just a little disorganized, but letting it go for too long will make it more effort and force it to yield more results, which will waste time when you should be doing other things no the list. So, yes, the data is important, but there are other human elements you should take into account. Finally, don't forget breaks. When you see everything in such a structured, urgent-looking way, it might cause you to jump right in in a flurry. That's great and will help you better align with the Yerkes-Dodson law, which dictates you need a bit of stress to be most productive, but it can lead to burnout. Write breaks down on that initial list and assign them a high value in terms of results—because taking breaks will yield results. Failing to do so can set you back, rendering the whole exercise useless. View the full article

Yesterday, after the stock market’s closing bell, Nvidia Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA) reported its Q3 2026 financials. Investors were eagerly anticipating the results, as the company is widely seen as a bellwether for the broader artificial intelligence market. Nvidia’s Q3 results were all the more anticipated as fears over an AI bubble have grown in recent months. But those fears seem to be put to bed, at least temporarily. Nvidia didn’t just meet expectations. It beat them. As a result, Nvidia’s stock price is jumping in premarket trading today—and it’s helping lift the stock prices of most other chipmakers and Big Tech giants. Here’s what you need to know. Nvidia’s Q3 results lift NVDA’s stock price Yesterday, Nvidia reported Q3 results that beat expectations. This includes revenue of $57.01 billion and an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.30. As noted by CNBC, LSEG analysts had expected Nvidia to post $54.92 billion in revenue and an adjusted EPS of $1.25. But it wasn’t just these all-important beats that investors are celebrating. Nvidia also said it expects revenue in its current Q4 to reach around $65 billion. Analysts had been expecting around $62 billion. Further, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang started off the company’s financial call addressing fears about an AI bubble head-on. “There’s been a lot of talk about an AI bubble,” Huang said. “But from our vantage point, we’re seeing something very different.” He went on to detail three broad technological transitions, which he says are driving the AI industry. As a result of the good news, Nvidia shares are jumping in premarket trading this morning, as of the time of this writing. Currently, NVDA shares are up nearly 5% to almost $196 per share. Yesterday, NVDA shares closed up 2.85% to 186.52. But over the past five-day period, NVDA shares had sunk 3.76% as fears of an AI bubble grew. However, based on Nvidia’s stock price this morning, the company’s quarterly results and forecast have allayed investors’ fears. And Nvidia’s stock price isn’t the only one that is rising. Chipmaking stocks jump after Nvidia’s earnings beat Nvidia is a sort of bellwether for chipmaker stocks. If Nvidia is doing well or, more importantly, forecasting growth, many investors believe that growth potential could favorably affect other chipmaker stocks and the stock prices of the companies that those chipmakers rely on. And today, it appears Nvidia is indeed having a “rising tide lifts all boats” effect on broader chip stocks. As of this writing, major chipmakers and chip-adjacent companies are seeing their stock prices rise in pre-market, including: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMD): up 4.3% Arm Holdings plc (Nasdaq: ARM): up 3.3% Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO):up 2.8% Intel Corporation (Nasdaq: INTC): up 1.8% Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU):up 2.3% NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA): up 6% QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM):up 0.8% Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE: TSM):up 2.5% Big Tech shares are also rising after Nvidia’s earnings It’s not just chip stocks that are getting a lift after Nvidia’s earnings. As Nvidia is grouped in with the Magnificent Seven, its positive earnings often help lift the share prices of other tech giants, many of whom are deeply invested in the AI space. As of the time of this writing, those other tech giants are also seeing green in premarket trading, including: Alphabet Inc. (Nasdaq: GOOG):up 1.9% Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN): up 1.6% Apple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL):up 0.4% Meta Platforms, Inc. (Nasdaq: META): up 1.2% Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT): up 1% Tesla, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA): up 1.9% Of course, while investors are cheering Nvidia’s earnings beat this morning, plenty of industry watchers still have fears that an AI bubble could be upon us. For now, Wall Street appears happy to put those fears on the back burner—at least until Nvidia’s fourth-quarter earnings approach in another three months. View the full article

Rachel Reeves expected to prolong ‘stealth’ tax policy first introduced under previous Conservative governmentView the full article

Sometimes, it's not the tasks on your to-do list that overwhelm you, but simply the act of sorting them out and figuring out where to start. Before you can prioritize your responsibilities and setting out a schedule for getting everything done (using strategies like "eating the frog" or creating a 1-3-5 to-do list), you have to identify what those big tasks are and what capacity you have to take them on. If you are the type of person that finds it helpful to visualize these things, let me introduce you to a pair of strategies that both involve imagining tasks as rocks: The "pickle jar theory" and the "big rocks theory." What is the pickle jar theory?The pickle jar theory is an excellent mental exercise for anyone who thinks or processes things visually. It was conceptualized by Jeremy Wright in 2002, based on the idea that a pickle jar holds a finite amount of content. So, too, does your day. There is only so much you can do in a day, as there is only so much you can stuff into a pickle jar. When thinking of your day as a pickle jar, imagine it full of three things: Rocks, pebbles, and sand. These represent your daily responsibilities, but as you can see, they’re different sizes. You can fit more of the smaller stuff, like sand and pebbles, than you can rocks, but rocks can still take up half the jar. How does the pickle jar theory work?To use this kind of thinking, you need to categorize your day’s tasks. Start by writing them all down, then prioritizing them using the Eisenhower Matrix, which is useful for figuring out which tasks are urgent and important, urgent and not important, not urgent but important, and not urgent and not important. (Even better: This too is a visual system. You design a matrix and plot your tasks along the graph.) Then, assign each task to a rock, pebble, or sand, like this: Rocks are the big tasks that are important, necessary to get on right away, and/or will take up a major chunk of time. Studying for a test, finalizing a major project at work, or cleaning the house can be rock-sized tasks, for instance. Pebbles are the things that are important to do, but not immediately necessary or massively time-consuming. You can fit quite a few of them in the jar, depending on how many rocks you have in there. Sand represents the small things that you need to do to keep your day moving along or just want to do. It enters the jar last and fills up the gaps between the bigger items. Sand can be anything from answering emails, going to meetings, calling your mom, or relaxing. These aren’t necessarily urgent or time-consuming, but they’re still important to your work or mental wellbeing. Visualize yourself putting one to three rocks in the jar, three to five pebbles, and as much sand as can fit. Understanding that not every single thing you need to do can always fit in there, you can make decisions about which rocks, pebbles, and sand pieces to hold over for the next day’s jar. This works because it gives you a tangible example of your own capacity, but also reminds you that even when your day is full of “rocks” and “pebbles,” you still have room for “sand.” Don’t forget to let some of the sand be enjoyable, because breaks are integral to productivity. Don’t over-stuff your jar with rocks and pebbles to the point that you have no room for sand at all, and don’t forget that other people have their own jars that might not be as full. Consider delegating some “pebble” tasks to a teammate, whether it’s a coworker or your spouse, or eliminating the unnecessary tasks altogether. On your Eisenhower Matrix, these will be the ones that are neither urgent nor important. Finally, you can make a so-called "to-don't" list if you're having a hard time figuring out what not to put in the jar. These can be lists of things you can just ignore, or lists of things to delegate or delay; regardless, knowing what isn't crucial before you start planning will help you fit in what is. What is the big rocks theory?There is a simplified version of the idea above that can work for you, too, if you don't want to categorize your tasks into rocks, pebbles, and sand, but want something a little more streamlined. You might be familiar with the concept of "big rocks" if you've read Stephen Covey's popular book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Essentially, as with the pickle-jar mindset, you should think of your time, energy, and resources like a big container and the things you need to do as rocks or gravel. You can't fit very many big rocks in there, but you can fit a few and still have room for the smaller tasks. The big ones take away from the space—your resources and time—so you have to be intentional about how many you really try to fit in. Visualizing is important, but you still have to use that to make a plan and get things done. First, write down everything you need to do on one page, whether in a digital word processor or a physical notebook. Then, consider how much time, energy, and other resources each thing will take and mark it as either a rock or gravel. Unlike other task prioritization methods, like the Eisenhower matrix mentioned above, this can be pretty loose. Just put down your best guess about how much each task will drain you. (When you're short on time, opt for this big rocks approach over the pickle jar approach because of its relative simplicity.) Once you have everything designated as a rock or gravel, schedule the rocks first. Here's where you can use time boxing to clearly carve out dedicated time for each thing you have to do. Keep in mind that if you schedule and work on gravel activities—emails, phone calls, doing the dishes, whatever—without taking on the big rocks first, you'll never get around to the big rocks; the smaller tasks are usually pretty endless, so you need to prioritize the big ones. Go back to your visualization: If you put all the gravel into your vessel before the big rocks, you'd fill it up and leave no room, but if you put in the big rocks first, then add the gravel, the gravel will fall between the rocks and settle in where it can. Identifying the resource-heavy, demanding tasks and prioritizing those ahead of the more menial stuff will allow you to actually make time to tackle it so you can fit the rest in where you can. But be a little judicious with that scheduling: Don't load a full day of big rocks into your schedule. You'll burn yourself out. Instead, choose only one or two per day, then allocate the rest of your time to those maintenance tasks. As you get better at incorporating this method into your workflow, you won't really need to think about rocks and jars anymore (unless you want to). You can shift over to a method like a 1-3-5 list, which calls for the pre-planning and completion of one big task, three medium-sized ones, and five little ones each day. Just keep in mind that medium tasks can become big tasks if put off for too long, and that you might need to turn preparation work for larger tasks into one of your smaller tasks. View the full article

In a world where AI can churn out chart-toppers in seconds and ticketing algorithms treat fans like data points, we risk losing the soul of live music. But a quiet countermovement is making a comeback right in people’s living rooms, backyards and basements. Once the gritty domain of garage bands and DIY punks, house shows are becoming a structured, sustainable model for music communities embraced by a myriad of musical genres and accessible to all ages. House shows aren’t just an indie throwback. They serve as a blueprint for re-humanizing music and sustainable artist development, and cities should treat them as civic infrastructure. Today, fans crave authentic, offline experiences. In Huntsville, Alabama, we’re betting big on this grassroots phenomenon, not as nostalgia, but as a future-proof cultural strategy meant to empower emerging artists, foster authentic human connection and fill gaps that traditional venues can’t. THE HISTORY OF THE HOUSE SHOW Van Halen’s first gigs were at backyard keg parties in California. Hoobastank, Incubus and Linkin Park formed the alternative rock sound of the early 2000s in their parents’ garages. But what defines a house show? A house show is first and foremost grounded in a sense of community. Often, a local band or willing host offers up their home to community members for an intimate musical performance. Artists and hosts run the full show, from tickets and gear to promotion, gaining skills they’d never get in a traditional venue. In 2025, major acts like the All-American Rejects and Machine Gun Kelly are embracing the format. Beyond big-name acts, artists all over the world are curating experiences where audiences can witness the next big thing up close, all while creating connections across demographics. Families, young fans and seasoned music lovers can gather in intimate, inclusive spaces. Take Common Man, a Huntsville-based husband-wife duo who are now touring the U.S. but remain fiercely dedicated to their community. Now dubbed Common House, Common Man members, Meredith and Compton Johnson, transformed the basement of their home into a live music venue. The duo has not only used house shows to launch their own exposure but also to provide other touring musicians and artists in the community with a platform to perform and reach new audiences in an inclusive environment. Recently, they’ve taken their house show model global and performed at homes throughout Scotland. And they’re not alone—Huntsville’s house show scene also includes Boardman House, another grassroots venue making space for live music. THE CIVIC BET ON THE LIVING ROOM Cities shouldn’t just invest in amphitheaters. They should also invest in cultural infrastructure at the neighborhood level to create intimate, fan-focused environments where artists are in more control of their concert experiences and show revenues, in the venues where careers are born and communities are formed. When cities support smaller venues, they’re offering benefits traditional venues and platforms can’t. For example, we’re: Helping with business and/or LLC formation for liability protection. Advising on ticketing and professional sound and lighting. Guiding artists through compliance with sound ordinances and neighborhood approvals. Prioritizing artist pay and sustainability. Cities often prioritize large or mid-sized venues due to their significant economic impact. House shows fill a different and equally vital gap. They empower artists to control ticket prices and profit margins, bypassing bar-sales-driven venue models. They create peer networking opportunities and act as incubators for emerging talent, offering artists the chance to book, promote and manage shows on a small scale, thereby building skills that can scale to larger venues. Most importantly, house shows democratize music, embedding it in communities instead of keeping it behind ticketing paywalls. In short, they rebalance the live music economy. THE REAL-LIFE ANTIDOTE TO AI In an age where AI-generated bands with entire albums have millions of streams and AI-enhanced performances of deceased artists are gaining popularity, ethical questions are being raised about authenticity and creative displacement. House shows deliver what algorithms cannot: shared human connection, local community and unpredictable magic in the room. Huntsville frames house shows not as nostalgia, but as a future-proof strategy for live music ecosystems. House shows aren’t replacing arenas or amphitheaters; instead, they complement them, with a thriving layer of hyperlocal, artist-first experiences. House shows are a missing piece of the live music ecosystem, and Huntsville is proving that cities can invest in culture not just from the top down, but from the living room up. As AI reshapes how music is made and consumed and fans crave authentic, in-person experiences, these intimate gatherings remind us that the real reasons we gravitate towards music are innately human and communal. Matt Mandrella is the music officer for the city of Huntsville, Alabama. View the full article