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Indian authorities name UK start-up founder in criminal complaint over ties to collapsed electronics groupView the full article

A new battery from Chinese company CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, can be fully recharged in under seven minutes. Charging that battery from 10% to 80%—often considered an ideal maximum charge to protect the battery’s health—takes less than four minutes. It’s a striking technological advancement that closes the gap between EVs and gas vehicles—and beats out a recent battery advancement by Chinese EV giant BYD. China has come to dominate the electric vehicle and battery industries, and companies there are continuing to make impressive leaps forward. Shenzhen-listed shares of CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited) are up more than 89% over the last 12 months, compared to a 53% increase for the Dow Jones U.S. Auto Manufacturers Index over the same period. The ultra-fast battery arms race In March, BYD announced its Blade Battery 2.0, a new battery that can go from 10% to 80% charge in 6 minutes and 30 seconds, or from 10% to 97% in 9 minutes. Now, CATL has its own ultra-fast option: At a Tech Day Event on April 21, the battery manufacturer debuted its third-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery. That battery can charge from 10% to 35% in 1 minute; from 10% to 80% in 3 minutes and 44 seconds; and from 10% to 98% in 6 minutes and 27 seconds. CATL has launched its third-gen Shenxing LFP battery, featuring charging speeds: 10%-35% SOC in 1 minute, 10%-80% in 3 minutes and 44 seconds, 10%-98% in 6 minutes and 27 seconds, and 10%-98% in 9 minutes at -30 degrees Celsius. — 刘淼 (@liumiao.com) 2026-04-21T12:16:52.703Z “This effectively closes the gap with [internal combustion engine] vehicles,” Bernstein analysts wrote in a note, according to the Wall Street Journal. EV batteries often struggle in extremely cold temperatures, because they slow down the chemical reactions inside a battery. That means this weather can both reduce a vehicle’s range and slow down the time it takes to recharge. But CATL’s Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery works in cold weather, too. At -30 degrees Celcius, or -22 degrees Fahrenheit, the battery can charge from 20% to 98% in about nine minutes. BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0, for comparison, takes about 12 minutes to charge to 97% at -20 degrees Celsius. Both CATL’s Shenxing and BYD’s Blade batteries are lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which contain no nickel or phosphate. These batteries are already common in Chinese EVs, because they use less expensive ingredients than lithium-iron batteries, and they’re durable and safe. More American automakers have been considering LFP batteries too. Ford Motor Company will use one in its forthcoming midsized EV. Tesla also uses LFP batteries—though it stopped using them in many of its EVs sold in North America because of tariffs. Elon Musk’s electric car company gets LFP batteries from both CATL and BYD. View the full article

Google posted a GEO Partner Manager role in its ads sales organization, using “Generative Engine Optimization” terminology in an ads-side job description. The post Google Ads Posts GEO Partner Manager Role appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Treasury secretary says ‘numerous’ countries sought support amid economic fallout from Iran warView the full article

Conflicts with coworkers are common in any workplace, and addressing them effectively is essential for maintaining a productive environment. By focusing on active listening and clear communication, you can better understand differing perspectives. It’s important to approach disagreements with empathy and to create a safe space for dialogue. Identifying root causes and collaborating on solutions can transform conflicts into opportunities for improvement. What strategies can you implement to improve conflict resolution in your team? Key Takeaways Practice active listening to fully understand your coworker’s perspective and reduce tensions during discussions. Communicate intentions clearly and respectfully to foster constructive dialogue and promote openness. Identify the root cause of disagreements to address underlying issues and prevent future conflicts. Collaborate on joint solutions that align with shared goals and interests to enhance teamwork. Create a safe space for open dialogue where all parties feel comfortable expressing their thoughts without judgment. Understanding the Nature of Workplace Conflict Grasping the nature of workplace conflict is fundamental for maintaining a healthy work environment, especially since conflicts often arise from differences in interests, opinions, and working styles. When you face a conflict with a coworker, it’s important to recognize that misunderstandings can escalate quickly. Many employees avoid addressing these issues, which leads to significant financial losses for organizations, estimated at $359 billion annually. Comprehending which business department deals with conflict resolution and employee needs can provide you with resources to address these issues effectively. To solve conflict with a coworker, early recognition of signs like passive resistance or changes in body language can help prevent escalation. Clear communication and alignment with your organization’s mission and values are crucial for resolving disputes. Emphasizing open dialogue can encourage a culture of collaboration, eventually enhancing team cohesion and productivity. The Importance of Addressing Conflicts Early Addressing conflicts early is vital for maintaining a productive work environment, as unresolved issues can quickly spiral out of control. Early recognition of signs like passive resistance or miscommunication can prevent escalation, mitigating negative impacts on team dynamics. An April 2024 survey revealed that 23% of employees left jobs because of unresolved workplace conflicts, indicating the need for timely intervention. Moreover, 18% of participants attributed project failures to conflict, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues swiftly to maintain productivity. When managers intervene early, they promote a culture of openness, reducing emotional buildup and encouraging healthier workplace relationships. Proactively addressing conflicts not only improves team morale but additionally saves organizations significant costs. Unresolved issues contribute to an estimated annual loss of $359 billion in American businesses. Consequently, tackling conflicts as soon as they arise is vital for ensuring a harmonious and efficient workplace. Essential Conflict Resolution Skills for Managers To effectively resolve conflicts, as a manager, you need to hone crucial skills like active listening, empathy, and clear communication. Utilizing these techniques helps you understand different perspectives and nurtures a collaborative atmosphere, making it easier to address issues before they escalate. Active Listening Techniques Active listening is a crucial skill for managers maneuvering conflicts with coworkers, as it lays the foundation for effective communication and resolution. By fully concentrating on what’s being said, you improve comprehension and reduce misunderstandings. Techniques like paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback show respect and validate your coworkers’ feelings, which can help de-escalate tense situations. When you practice active listening, you’re more likely to uncover the root causes of conflicts, allowing you to address different perspectives and concerns. Research indicates that effective listening contributes to higher employee satisfaction and lower turnover rates, as team members feel heard and valued. Incorporating these techniques can greatly improve conflict resolution outcomes within your team. Empathy and Perspective-Taking During managing conflicts with coworkers, incorporating empathy and perspective-taking can greatly improve your effectiveness as a manager. These skills cultivate a collaborative environment and help you navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. Here are some key points to reflect on: Understand Emotions: Empathy involves recognizing and sharing the feelings of others, which reduces tensions. Evaluate Different Viewpoints: Perspective-taking allows you to appreciate your coworkers’ viewpoints, leading to more balanced resolutions. Enhance Communication: High emotional intelligence, including these skills, strengthens your overall communication ability. Boost Team Cohesion: Regular practice of empathy and perspective-taking can improve team cohesion, potentially increasing productivity by 25%. Clear Communication Strategies Effective communication forms the backbone of successful conflict resolution in the workplace. Clear communication helps you and your colleagues comprehend each other better, reducing misinterpretations. Use active listening and empathy to grasp different perspectives, which is essential for finding common ground. Avoid aggressive language; instead, promote constructive dialogue that encourages openness. Set aside dedicated time for discussions, allowing both parties to focus on resolving the conflict collaboratively. Follow up after initial conversations to reinforce commitments, emphasizing that resolving conflicts is an ongoing process. Strategy Description Benefits Active Listening Fully engage with what others are saying Cultivates comprehension Empathy Understand others’ feelings Builds trust and rapport Constructive Language Use neutral, non-accusatory terms Encourages open discussions Strategies for Effective Communication During Conflict When conflicts arise, effective communication is key to resolving issues and maintaining a positive work environment. You should focus on active listening techniques to truly grasp your coworker’s viewpoint, which can help de-escalate tensions and promote collaboration. Furthermore, expressing your intentions clearly and respectfully can create a more constructive dialogue, paving the way for mutual comprehension and problem-solving. Active Listening Techniques Active listening is a critical component of effective communication, especially in conflict situations with coworkers. By practicing active listening, you can promote respect and comprehension. Here are some techniques to improve your skills: Give full attention: Focus entirely on the speaker, avoiding distractions and interruptions. Paraphrase: Restate what your coworker has said to show engagement and validate their perspective. Use nonverbal cues: Maintain eye contact and nod to signal that you value their input and are interested in resolving the issue. Ask open-ended questions: Encourage deeper dialogue, allowing your coworker to elaborate on their feelings, which helps clarify the conflict. These techniques can greatly improve communication and assist in conflict resolution in the workplace. Clear Expression of Intent Clear expression of intent is essential for maneuvering conflicts effectively, as it allows both parties to understand each other’s perspectives and work toward a resolution. Start by stating your desire for a positive working relationship, which sets a constructive tone. Utilize “I” statements to express your feelings without blaming the other person, such as, “I feel frustrated when deadlines are missed.” This approach encourages open dialogue. Confirm both parties have adequate time and space to share their viewpoints, promoting mutual respect. Avoid aggressive language, focusing instead on specific behaviors that need addressing. Clearly outline mutual goals during the conversation to align both parties and facilitate collaboration, making it easier to find a resolution. Identifying the Root Cause of Disagreements Conflicts in the workplace often stem from deeper issues that can easily be overlooked. To effectively identify the root causes of disagreements, consider these key factors: Miscommunication: Misunderstandings can escalate quickly if not addressed, so clarify any ambiguous messages. Differing Values: Recognize that personal beliefs and values may differ, leading to conflicting approaches to common goals. Unmet Needs: Identify if there are unmet needs driving frustrations, which could be resolved through open dialogue. Assumptions and Perceptions: Take time to analyze your assumptions about the situation and how they may differ from your coworker’s perspective. Fostering a Safe Space for Dialogue To cultivate a safe space for dialogue, it’s essential to prioritize an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns without fear of judgment. Establishing neutral settings, such as quiet meeting rooms or private virtual calls, encourages open and respectful conversations. Clearly communicating the meeting’s goal helps ease fears of misunderstanding, nurturing trust and openness. During discussions, encourage uninterrupted sharing; this reduces defensiveness and allows everyone to express their thoughts freely. A safe environment improves communication, allowing both parties to focus on the issue at hand rather than resorting to personal attacks, which can escalate tensions. Regularly promoting a culture of safety and openness within the workplace leads to earlier recognition of conflicts, preventing escalation and nurturing a collaborative work environment. Approaches to Collaborative Problem-Solving To effectively tackle conflicts with coworkers, open communication techniques are essential. By engaging in joint solution development, everyone can contribute their perspectives, which helps identify shared goals and interests. This collaborative approach not just promotes teamwork but additionally increases the likelihood of achieving solutions that everyone supports. Open Communication Techniques How can you effectively resolve conflicts with coworkers through open communication techniques? Implementing these strategies can help you navigate conflicts smoothly: Practice active listening – Guarantee everyone feels heard by focusing on what they’re saying without interrupting. Engage in face-to-face discussions – This method can clarify misunderstandings that often occur in written communication. Create a safe space – Establish a neutral setting where all parties feel comfortable sharing their thoughts without fear of judgment. Focus on behaviors, not attributes – Address specific actions instead of personal qualities to promote a constructive atmosphere and reduce defensiveness. Joint Solution Development Collaborating with coworkers to solve conflicts can lead to innovative solutions that benefit everyone involved. Joint solution development encourages teamwork and shared goals, nurturing an environment where ideas thrive. By using the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, you can identify your conflict management styles, focusing on collaboration for mutual gain. Open communication is essential; it allows everyone to express their thoughts safely. Involving all parties not only secures buy-in for the solutions but likewise strengthens relationships, reducing future conflicts. Regular follow-ups reinforce accountability and guarantee solutions are implemented effectively. Benefits of Joint Solution Development Challenges to Address Encourages teamwork Fear of judgment Nurtures innovative solutions Differing communication styles Increases buy-in Resistance to change Maintains positive relationships Misalignment of goals Reinforces accountability Time constraints Managing Conflict in Remote and Hybrid Environments Although remote and hybrid work arrangements offer flexibility, they can also lead to unique challenges in managing conflicts among coworkers. With 23% of employees leaving jobs because of unresolved conflicts, proactive strategies are crucial. Here are some effective ways to manage conflict in these environments: Utilize video conferencing for discussions to encourage clearer communication and minimize misunderstandings. Provide tech support to remote employees, ensuring they’ve the necessary tools for effective communication. Conduct regular check-ins to identify and address potential conflicts early, preventing emotional buildups in teams. Create a safe virtual space where employees feel comfortable sharing their perspectives without fear of retribution. Following Up to Reinforce Accountability To guarantee that conflict resolution is effective and lasting, following up with coworkers after a disagreement is vital. A single conversation rarely addresses all underlying issues, so ongoing communication is fundamental. Checking in a few days post-resolution reinforces accountability and emphasizes that resolution is an ongoing process. Regular follow-ups help identify new issues that may arise, ensuring everyone stays aligned and engaged. Establishing a routine for these conversations nurtures a culture of open dialogue and signals your commitment to a healthy work environment. Research shows that proactive follow-ups can improve relationships and prevent future conflicts. Follow-Up Action Purpose Schedule a check-in Reinforce accountability Ask open-ended questions Encourage honest feedback Share observations Confirm mutual comprehension Discuss potential issues Prevent escalation of new conflicts Celebrate improvements Acknowledge progress and nurture teamwork Turning Conflict Into a Growth Opportunity When you encounter conflict at work, it can serve as a valuable opportunity for growth rather than merely a setback. Recognizing this potential can lead to significant benefits for you and your team. Here are four ways to turn conflict into a growth opportunity: Encourage Diverse Perspectives: Invite different viewpoints to nurture creativity and innovation in problem-solving. Promote Open Dialogue: Create a culture where team members feel safe to discuss underlying issues, enhancing overall performance. Build Resilience: Learn to navigate disagreements effectively, strengthening interpersonal relationships and team cohesion. Reflect on Lessons Learned: Identify blind spots from conflicts to implement proactive changes that improve dynamics and communication. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Five 5 Strategies to Resolve Workplace Conflict? To resolve workplace conflict, you can use five strategies from the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model. First, avoiding might work for low-stakes issues but isn’t effective for important conflicts. Competing prioritizes your goals over relationships, useful in crises but risky for trust. Accommodating focuses on maintaining relationships, yet overusing it can stifle innovation. Compromising seeks a middle ground, whereas collaborating nurtures win-win solutions by valuing both parties, making it ideal for complex workplace challenges. What Are the 5 C’s of Conflict Resolution? The 5 C’s of conflict resolution are crucial for effectively addressing disputes. First, communication promotes comprehension through active listening and open dialogue. Second, collaboration emphasizes working together in the direction of a shared goal, building trust. Third, compromise involves making concessions to achieve mutual agreement. Fourth, creativity encourages innovative solutions that tackle underlying issues. Finally, commitment guarantees all parties stay dedicated to resolving the conflict and maintaining positive relationships, eventually leading to a healthier work environment. How to Resolve Conflicts With Coworkers? To resolve conflicts with coworkers, first address the issue when emotions are calm, ensuring rational discussions. Set a designated time for both parties to prepare and communicate openly. Focus on specific behaviors rather than personal traits to minimize defensiveness. After your initial conversation, follow up to check on progress and reinforce commitments. What Are the 3 C’s of Conflict Resolution? The 3 C’s of conflict resolution are Clarity, Compassion, and Collaboration. Clarity means you should clearly identify the issue to guarantee everyone understands the specifics, thereby avoiding misunderstandings. Compassion involves recognizing and empathizing with others’ emotions, allowing for respectful interactions. Finally, Collaboration encourages you and your team to work together to find solutions that benefit everyone, which can lead to innovative outcomes and strengthen relationships within the team. Conclusion Effectively resolving conflicts with coworkers requires proactive communication and a focus on comprehending differing perspectives. By addressing issues early, utilizing crucial conflict resolution skills, and nurturing a collaborative environment, you can identify root causes and develop effective solutions. Whether in-person or remote, maintaining a respectful dialogue and following up guarantees accountability. In the end, viewing conflicts as opportunities for growth can improve teamwork and improve workplace dynamics, leading to a more productive and harmonious work environment. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Effectively Solve Conflicts With Coworkers" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Toll Brothers' purchase of Buffington Homes of Arkansas will extend its national outreach with a strong presence in northwest Arkansas, the company said. View the full article

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday defended cuts to the Community Development Financial Institution Fund in the president's 2027 budget, telling the Senate Appropriations Committee that the program had pursued a "partisan wish list." View the full article

Fraud claims come amid escalating feud between the The President venture and one of its biggest supportersView the full article

It’s Administrative Professionals Day! Last week we talked about the most ridiculous requests you’ve seen made of assistants, and here are 17 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The flusher This was when I worked at a toxic doctor’s office. I was admin assistant to his wife, the practice manager, and my desk was closest to the bathroom. She always wore a headset and once took a call while in the bathroom. When she was done with the bathroom part, she came out and motioned for me to flush the toilet for her so her caller didn’t hear it. 2. The astrologist When I was an assistant, my boss made me input every day when Mercury would be in retrograde into her calendar. 3. The prayer My boss at a legal staffing company once sent me to a church to light a candle of remembrance to honor her late husband, asking me to be sure to pray for him on her behalf. She told me she was too busy to go on her own (I was her EA; she wasn’t) and I heard her explaining to her adult children the heart rending emotions she felt while she lit the candle. It was my first job out of college and I a great deference to authority, and so I did it. Even the prayers, although we did not share a religion. 4. The eye drops I was working at a Big8 accounting firm and for a brief period of time I had to put eye drops in the eyes of one of the senior partners. (Editor’s note: this has apparently happened enough that there were TWO stories submitted of two different bosses requesting this.) 5. The car When my boss couldn’t park in her preferred spot in the parking garage, she’d leave her car in the loading dock, come inside, and throw her keys on the reception desk. I was supposed to go park her car for her and then, of course, retrieve it again at the end of the day since she didn’t know where it was in the garage. 6. The binder clip prep I was an admin for three years to the president of a tiny medical software company. I would place office supply orders — pretty normal. But when I ordered new binder clips, I had to dump out the plastic cylinder of clips and flip up the tabs on each one, then put them back (at which point they never fit properly into the cylinder anymore and I had to kind of jam them in). This was because my boss was too busy to do this himself when he wanted to use a binder clip. 7. The mail chute This happened back in the early 1990s, before there was internet and email. I worked as an assistant to a salesman in a bank and used to wear dress suits and pantyhose to work. My job was to help him put together proposals for organizations. He was a type A personality, and I tried to comply to his demands, even making sure that the paper on which we printed had the watermark consistently facing in the same direction. One day we had accidentally sent out a proposal with a section missing. It had already been delivered to our mailroom’s DHL bin, awaiting its final destination. I asked why we couldn’t just send the missing section separately, but my boss was worried that it would appear unprofessional. Then he suggested that the two of us go to the mailroom together, where he would pick me up by the ankles and dip me upside-down, head-first into the DHL bin to retrieve the package. He was completely serious. For a second, I imagined this scenario in which my skirt would slide up my thighs. I refused. In the end, we got a couple of the smaller men from the mailroom to recover the proposal for us, so it all worked out and my dignity remained intact. 8. The coffee This wasn’t so much an unreasonable request, but I was so proud of my sneakiness at the time – I occasionally had to assist a woman who was notoriously mean to everyone. She always wanted Starbucks coffee, but the trouble was that the closest Starbucks was 4 blocks away and always had a huge line (this was before online ordering was a thing), so getting it would take forever. She DID. NOT. UNDERSTAND why her coffee wasn’t magically appearing two minutes after she asked for it. Finally, after being berated one too many times, I asked the Starbucks barista for a bunch of cups and lids, and from then on, any time this woman demanded her Starbucks coffee, I simply dipped into our kitched, poured whatever Folgers coffee was let in the shared pot into the Starbucks cup, popped a lid on, and brought it back to her. She never knew the difference. 9. The light My boss once texted me to come turn on his office light while he was already sitting in there. 10. The avocados The dumbest request I’ve ever gotten as an assistant: going out every morning to buy multiple avocados for the CEO to choose from. After she chose her preferred avocado, I had to slice it in half, put cayenne pepper on it, and serve it to her on a plate. With chopsticks. She once asked me to put the whole avocado setup on a paper plate in a ziploc bag so she could eat while driving to the Hamptons (again – with chopsticks). I made the more senior assistant handle that one as I didn’t want to be liable in case her dumb ass did something on the road. 11. The trash collector I worked for a tiny org, with a tiny office space. The boss refused to buy the city’s trash and recycling services because the rolling bins would have to be visible in the main space and that would “look unprofessional.” Instead, multiple times a week I was tasked to take office trash home to dispose of in my own residential bins. I even handled some bulky trash disposal piece by piece from a renovation prior to my start date. 12. The chef The EA at my first big job was responsible for preparing lunch for the CEO every day. She cooked it at home the night before and warmed it for him (always on the stove, no microwaves allowed) and served it to him at the same time daily. Every other task on her agenda was dropped for lunch. It took at least an hour a day, between prep and dishes afterwards. 13. The rehab driver I was voluntold to escort the nonprofit CEO’s adult child to rehab. To make matters worse, the adult child didn’t realize that the “appointment” was an intake to a 30-day program. Needless to say, she declined. That was an awkward Uber ride back to the office. 14. The swim instructor After my first year of law school, I was hired for the summer by a law firm in my hometown as a law clerk/paralegal/administrative assistant/whatever Weird Lawyer needed me to do. I mentioned I was on the swim team in college. He would swim for exercise a few times a week. I had to give him swim lessons. 15. The sofa Early in my career, I was part of a small army of assistants supporting the owner/CEO of a reasonably sized company. When I was hired, her office was mid-refurbishment — and she was profoundly offended by how new the leather sofa looked. Apparently, it didn’t align with her carefully curated vision. To fix this, another junior assistant and I were given a highly specialized assignment: make the sofa look lived-in. How? By taking turns jumping on it in 30‑minute shifts until it met her aesthetic standards. This was a very professional office. It was the 1990s. The dress code was strict. We wore pencil skirts and pantyhose. Picture two exhausted assistants aggressively bounce-testing a leather sofa like it owed us money. It’s honestly a miracle neither of us pulled a muscle, ripped hosiery, or had to explain to HR why we were airborne in the CEO’s office. The sofa survived. So did we. Barely. It was also the exact moment I realized I might want to explore a different career path — one that didn’t involve trampoline-based interior design. 16. The fish tank Years ago, I worked for the very sweetest, most lovely older man who happened to be very short. He also loved tropical fish, and in his office he had a wall-sized tank that he was very proud of. One day I heard him yelling my name, ran to his office, and turned the corner to see him standing in a stepstool, in his underwear, soaking wet. This was confusing, to understate it. Turns out one of his fish had died and he had been trying to use a net to get the body off the bottom of the tank, but couldn’t reach and fell in! He thought maybe I could help because I had longer arms. Once I got some clarity on What exactly Was Going On Here, I of course happily tried to help, but it was wall sized! I couldn’t get the poor deceased fish either, but I did call the fish tank guy (yes, we had a guy) for an emergency rescue. 17. The refusal My second day working for a renowned surgeon and department chair (and big muckety muck overall), he gave me his wife’s phone number to assist her with her afternoon social in three days. (Note: attendees were just her friends and social climbing assets.) I was so shocked, my spine grew unexpectedly and I told him that I was a state employee and would never perform any personal errands for him and certainly not his wife. To his credit, he just said okay and never brought it up again. I actually think he respected me for speaking up and the four years I worked for him were some of the best in my work life. The post the eye drops, the flusher, and other ridiculous requests made of assistants appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. As tick populations grow (thanks, climate change) and tickborne diseases like Lyme become more widespread, tick checks have become routine for a lot of us. But do you really know what it means to “check yourself for ticks”? Chances are, you’re missing some important parts of the process. You only need a tick check when you've been in the woodsAre you conscientious about tick checks when you're camping, but only when you're camping? Ticks live in more places than just the woods, and most parts of the US have at least one species of tick around. Check these tick maps from the CDC to get a sense of whether they’re in your area and which species of ticks to look out for. Dog ticks are found just about everywhere. Some tick species are only found in the eastern half of the country, and then there are the Rocky Mountain ticks and the western blacklegged ticks out west. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, the CDC notes. Growing up in Pennsylvania, I always thought of the woods and farm fields as the places you pick up ticks. But years later, I now know there are ticks in my own backyard, as well as parks and other areas that don’t fit the stereotype I had in my head. I’ll do a tick check whenever I’ve spent time near tall grass, leaf litter, woods, or brush—which includes pretty much anywhere I go in the summer. Don’t forget to check your kids for ticks, too. Skipping the showerIf you think of a "tick check" as an isolated chore, it's easy to forget. But if you make sure to take a shower after you've been outdoors, that both gives you an opportunity for a thorough check as you're undressing, and possibly wash off ticks even if your check wasn't so thorough (or if you forgot to do it entirely). The CDC points out that taking a shower within two hours after you get home from an outdoor outing has been shown to reduce your chances of getting Lyme disease, and probably also reduces your chances of other tickborne diseases as well. Ticks crawl around for a few hours before they find a place to attach, so there’s a good chance that un-attached ticks will wash off during the shower whether you see them or not. As a bonus, you also have several hours to wash off the oils from poison ivy before it begins to trigger a rash. A shower is always on my to-do list after coming home from a trail run. The other benefit of taking a shower after you get home is that it gives you a chance to get naked—and that’s when the real tick check begins. Missing critical areas of your bodyThe first place I always check is my lower legs. Ticks need to stay close to the ground while they’re waiting for a person to walk by, so you won’t find them climbing trees and dropping down from above—that’s a myth. They chill on the ground, then climb a stalk of grass, then if they haven’t found a victim they will return to the ground to rehydrate for a bit. That means they’ll usually contact your lower legs first, so if you just got back from your hike, check your ankles, shins, and knees first. But over the course of the next few hours, they’ll climb upwards. It’s not uncommon to find ticks on your upper body or even in your hair, if they've had enough time to climb. So check these harder-to-see spots, which I’ll list from bottom to top: The backs of your knees Between your legs (use a mirror...sorry!) Inside your belly button In your armpits Behind your ears In your hair A mirror or a partner can help you to see those out-of-the-way places. If you have kids, check them over while you help them get ready for a shower or when you do a diaper change. Not knowing what you're looking forLook up the species of ticks that live in your area, and make sure you know how big they are and what they look like. Ticks grow as they go through their life cycle, with the smallest being about the size of a poppyseed. Adult ticks can be anywhere from the size of a sesame seed to a corn kernel, depending on what species they are and whether they have fed. Before ticks attach, they crawl around, and you might mistake them for other kinds of bugs (and vice versa). There are lots of little bugs you can pick up from outside that aren’t ticks. If you want to take an educated guess at whether the little guy you found is a tick, check the number of legs. Ticks are arachnids, so they have eight legs. You may find an attached tick during your check—or, if you’re unlucky, sometime the next day after you should have done your check. An attached tick doesn’t usually hurt. You might just notice a little scab or mole where there wasn’t one before, and when you take a closer look at it, it’s got legs. Ew. Go get the tweezers or your handy-dandy tick removal device. (I’m partial to the TickKey.) Jotovo Tick Remover Tool 3-Pack $10.79 at Amazon $11.99 Save $1.20 Shop Now Shop Now $10.79 at Amazon $11.99 Save $1.20 Once a tick is done feeding, it will drop off. If you have a pet dog and don’t keep up with their flea and tick medication, you may occasionally find what looks like a gray or green corn kernel in the dog bed. That’s what this is. A tick that is not attached to you isn’t usually a health risk if you find it in your house; chances are, it will dry out and die. But just to be safe, you can launder any clothes or bedding in hot water and/or put them in the dryer on high. Next time, keep your pet up to date on tick control medication, and do those tick checks on everybody when you get home. Not having a plan for what to do when you find a tickIf you find a tick crawling on you, that's easy—wash it off, brush it off (if you're outside), or squish it and throw it in the trash. But what if you find one that's already attached? That's when you have to know the right way to remove a tick. Forget the blown-out matches, soap, or alcohol—you don't want to do anything that makes the tick release itself, since they'll vomit their stomach contents into your bloodstream, which worsens the risk of catching a tickborne disease. Instead, pull the tick off your skin with fine-tipped tweezers, or with a specialized device like a TickKey or Tick Twister. I keep a TickKey in my bathroom at home, and bring another with me when I travel. You just slip the little keyhole slot over the tick, and pull—something even most squeamish folks can probably handle. View the full article

Michael is aiming for a record-breaking opening weekend. It’s also a critical flop. In a vacuum, the Michael Jackson biopic might sound like a perfectly palatable film. The movie stars Jackson’s real-life nephew Jaafar Jackson as the titular singer, following his childhood through the height of his career in the 1980s with non-stop musical sequences of the King of Pop’s greatest hits. But Michael Jackson’s legacy is more than just music. Audiences and critics alike are panning Michael for glossing over the dark side of Jackson’s life, proving that it takes more than a famous subject to make a biopic a critical success—even while Jackson’s star power propels the movie to a box office of $70 million its debut weekend. The elephant in the room As initial reviews for Michael roll in, the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes score has gone viral: a decidedly rotten 34%. Many critics are taking issue with the film’s exclusion of Jackson’s 1993 allegations of child abuse, which plagued the last two decades of his life and came to pop culture prominence again with the 2019 docuseries Leaving Neverland. In his only criminal trial in 2005, Jackson was acquitted, but his reputation never recovered. Michael, critics think, might be trying to change that. “There are scenes that can only be described as whitewashing, sainting Michael Jackson in such a way that it feels explicitly like calculated damage control,” reads Monica Castillo’s review of Michael for AV Club. Writing for The Associated Press, Jake Coyle said that Michael “slides a sequin glove over the pop star’s tarnished legacy.” But outside of what did or didn’t make the cut from Jackson’s life, critics also say the movie fails on its own merits. “Michael does the impossible: It makes the King of Pop boring,” wrote Siddhant Adlakha for IGN, calling it a “frictionless, flat, paper-thin story that’s so concerned with fidelity to bullet points and recognizable highlights that it robs its characters of soul.” In other words, it’s bad. Really, really bad. The film’s defenders point out that the movie’s timeline ends in 1987 before Jackson was ever accused, so it makes sense that the controversy isn’t included in the film—but that’s exactly the problem, its critics contend. On social media, viewers compared Michael’s framing to ending an O.J. Simpson biopic after he won the Heisman Trophy, a Harvey Weinstein biopic after he nabbed an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love, or a Bill Cosby biopic with the success of his sitcom. There’s an elephant in the room when it comes to Jackson’s legacy, and leaving it out with not so much as a nod reads to many viewers as an attempt at reputation rehab. Left on the cutting room floor Michael wasn’t always so heavily sanitized. An originally shot third act of the movie would have focused on Jackson’s allegations of child abuse and their impact on his life—but it all had to be scrapped. Attorneys from the Jackson estate, which produced the movie, noticed after filming that a clause in a settlement with one of Jackson’s accusers, Jordan Chandler, barred the depiction or mention of him in any movie. That led to 22 days of reshoots and a reimagined ending, adding $10 to $15 million to the movie’s already massive budget, according to Variety. The musical biopic craze continues Critics can come for Michael all they want, but it’s unlikely to stop the movie from box office domination. It’s currently projected to make $65 million to $70 million in its opening weekend, with some experts predicting the movie will cross the $80 million threshold. Even the low end of those projections would give Michael the highest-grossing debut for musical biopic of all time, topping 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, which earned $51 million in its opening weekend. Michael is only the latest in a decade-long flurry of musical biopics, kickstarted by the Freddie Mercury-focused Bohemian Rhapsody and continued by a cohort of icons like Elton John in 2019’s Rocketman, Elvis Presley in 2022’s Elvis, Bob Dylan in 2024’s A Complete Unknown, and Bruce Springsteen in last year’s Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. The movies are by and large crowdpleasers, mixing beloved music with silver-screen spectacle, but Michael exemplifies their biggest issue: simplifying complicated, fascinating figures for the sake of preserving their legacies. Critics may decry the genre as oversaturated—but with numbers this massive even for a much-maligned movie like Michael, they’re unlikely to fall out of favor in Hollywood any time soon. View the full article

Creating a standard Chart of Accounts (CoA) for your business is vital for effective financial management. It involves organizing your financial data into categories, such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. This structure not just aids in tracking transactions but additionally improves clarity in reporting. As you start this process, you’ll need to evaluate your specific financial needs and how to categorize your accounts effectively. Comprehending these aspects is fundamental, and the next steps will guide you through each phase of development. Key Takeaways Assess your business needs to determine the complexity and number of accounts required for effective financial tracking. Define clear categories for assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses, ensuring each account serves a specific purpose. Establish a logical numbering system that allows for future expansions and easy grouping of similar accounts. Use descriptive and consistent naming conventions for accounts to enhance clarity and understanding of financial data. Regularly review and update the Chart of Accounts to maintain relevance and compliance with accounting standards. What Is a Chart of Accounts? A Chart of Accounts (CoA) is fundamentally a structured list that organizes all the financial accounts used by your business to categorize financial transactions. This systematic approach includes various account types, such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Each account in the CoA is assigned unique chart of accounts codes, often adhering to a numerical system—for instance, assets might range from 1000 to 1999, whereas liabilities could be from 2000 to 2999. These accounting codes and classifications improve the clarity of your financial reporting, making it easier to prepare crucial financial statements like the balance sheet and income statement. A standard chart of accounts varies across industries, with organizations typically having between 20 to several hundred accounts based on their transaction diversity. A well-structured CoA not solely supports compliance with accounting standards but additionally simplifies tracking of expenses and account balances. Importance of an Effective Chart of Accounts Grasping the importance of an effective Chart of Accounts (CoA) is essential for any business aiming to maintain financial clarity and accuracy. A well-structured CoA provides a clear framework for categorizing financial transactions, ensuring compliance with standards like GAAP or IFRS. This organization enables you to easily access and interpret vital financial data for decision-making. It streamlines the preparation of financial statements, including your income statement accounts list. You’ll find it easier to manage your expense accounts list. Clear equity accounts examples help in comprehending your business’s financial position. Regular updates keep your CoA relevant and accurate. A concise CoA typically includes 20-30 accounts, avoiding unnecessary complexity. How Does a Chart of Accounts Work? Comprehending how a Chart of Accounts (CoA) works is vital for effective financial management. A CoA organizes financial accounts into a systematic structure, dividing them into Balance Sheet Accounts and Income Statement Accounts. This organization allows you to use only the appropriate accounts to prepare a balance sheet, ensuring that assets, liabilities, and equity are clearly defined. Each account is assigned a unique reference number, which simplifies identification and retrieval, following a standardized numbering system. By categorizing financial transactions, the CoA improves the clarity of financial data, making it easier for you and other stakeholders to analyze performance. Furthermore, a well-structured list of revenue accounts enables you to track income effectively. Regular updates and reviews of the CoA are vital to maintain its accuracy and relevance, ensuring compliance with accounting standards like GAAP or IFRS. This systematic approach lays the groundwork for accurate financial reporting. Types of Chart of Accounts Grasping the different types of accounts within a Chart of Accounts (CoA) is fundamental for effective financial tracking and reporting. The CoA is typically categorized into five primary types, each serving distinct purposes: Asset Accounts (1XXX): Resources owned by your company, like cash and inventory. Liability Accounts (2XXX): Obligations you owe, including loans and accounts payable. Equity Accounts (3XXX): Reflects owners’ residual interest after liabilities, such as retained earnings. Revenue Accounts (4XXX): Tracks income generated from your core business activities. Expense Accounts (5XXX – 7XXX): Records costs incurred to generate revenue, including salaries and rent. The structure of a CoA can vary considerably across industries. Small businesses often use around 20 accounts, whereas more complex organizations may require a detailed set for specific reporting needs. Comprehending these types will set a solid foundation for your financial management. How to Create a Chart of Accounts: 8 Key Steps Creating a Chart of Accounts starts with evaluating your business needs to understand the complexity of your financial transactions. From there, you’ll define specific account categories that suit your operations and establish a clear numbering system to organize these accounts logically. These initial steps set the foundation for effective tracking and reporting, ensuring your financial management remains streamlined and accurate. Assess Business Needs When you assess your business needs, it’s essential to recognize the complexity and diversity of your financial transactions, as this will guide you in determining the appropriate number of accounts for effective tracking and reporting. Start by identifying specific accounts relevant to your operations. Reflect on breaking down broad categories into detailed accounts for better granularity, making sure each serves a clear purpose. Remember to maintain a balance between simplicity and detail to avoid cumbersome management. Here are some key points to reflect on: Identify assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Limit the number of accounts for clarity. Regularly review your Chart of Accounts. Adjust accounts as your business evolves. Maintain compliance with accounting standards. Define Account Categories Defining account categories is crucial for establishing a well-structured Chart of Accounts (CoA) that accurately reflects your business’s financial position. Start by identifying the five main categories: assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Each category should be broken down into specific accounts; for example, list cash and inventory under assets, accounts payable under liabilities, and sales revenue under revenue. This approach allows for detailed tracking and reporting of financial activities. Use clear and concise naming conventions to avoid confusion and guarantee consistent comprehension across your organization. Regularly review and update your CoA to adapt to changes in your business operations or regulatory requirements, keeping it relevant and effective for your financial management needs. Establish Numbering System A well-organized numbering system is essential for your Chart of Accounts, helping you categorize and track your financial data effectively. Start by establishing a logical framework, grouping accounts into categories like: Assets (1000-1999) Liabilities (2000-2999) Equity (3000-3999) Revenue (4000-4999) Expenses (5000-5999) Leave gaps in the numbering (e.g., 1000, 1010, 1020) to allow for future additions without disrupting the structure. Use clear, descriptive names for accounts to improve comprehension. Make sure your numbering system aligns with industry standards and regulatory requirements, promoting compliance. Finally, regularly review and adjust the system as your business evolves, keeping it relevant and effective for tracking financial transactions. Best Practices in Chart of Accounts Establishing best practices in your Chart of Accounts is crucial for effective financial management, as it lays the foundation for accurate record-keeping and reporting. Start by categorizing accounts into five main groups: assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. Use a standard numbering system to maintain order and consistency. Here’s a quick overview of best practices: Best Practice Description Clear Descriptions Maintain concise descriptions for easy tracking. Regular Reviews Update your Chart regularly to reflect business changes. Avoid Deleting Accounts Don’t delete accounts during the fiscal year; consolidate instead. Utilize Accounting Software Use software with templates to streamline management. Guarantee Compliance Align your Chart with accounting standards like GAAP or IFRS. Following these guidelines not only improves clarity but additionally boosts your financial reporting and overall business efficiency. Common Mistakes to Avoid When managing your Chart of Accounts, it’s easy to fall into common pitfalls that can undermine its effectiveness. To maintain accuracy and efficiency, steer clear of these mistakes: Misclassifying accounts, like recording dividends as expenses, can lead to compliance issues. Deleting accounts during the fiscal year disrupts financial data integrity, making reporting difficult. Overcomplicating your Chart of Accounts with too many detailed accounts creates confusion and inefficiencies. Neglecting regular reviews may leave outdated or irrelevant accounts that don’t align with your current operations. Failing to establish clear naming conventions and account numbering results in inconsistencies and tracking difficulties. Utilizing Accounting Software for Management Utilizing accounting software can greatly streamline the management of your Chart of Accounts (CoA), especially as your business grows and evolves. Tools like QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, and Xero offer predefined templates to set up your CoA quickly and in line with industry standards. You can customize account numbering and naming conventions, adapting the CoA to your specific needs as you ensure clarity. Additionally, these platforms provide real-time reporting capabilities, allowing you to track financial performance and make informed decisions. Automation reduces manual errors, making it easier to update and maintain account information. Integrating accounting software with other business systems improves efficiency, promoting seamless data flow and boosting overall financial reporting accuracy. Feature Benefit Predefined Templates Quick setup aligned with industry standards Customization Options Customized account names and numbers Real-Time Reporting Informed decision-making Automation Reduced manual errors Future Considerations for Your Chart of Accounts Designing a Chart of Accounts (CoA) with future growth in mind is vital for any business aiming to remain agile and responsive to changing conditions. As your organization evolves, consider the following strategies to guarantee your CoA remains effective: Scalability: Build a CoA that allows for easy addition of new accounts as your operations diversify. Annual Review: Regularly update your CoA to stay aligned with business needs and regulatory changes. Flexibility: Incorporate design elements that enable adaptation to reorganizations or acquisitions without disrupting financial tracking. Number Ranges: Implement a number range for accounts to create a multilevel hierarchy, which aids in thorough reporting and analysis. Governance Framework: Establish a strong maintenance framework to mitigate risks related to data inconsistency and guarantee efficient evolution of your CoA. Frequently Asked Questions Can I Customize My Chart of Accounts for Specific Business Needs? Yes, you can customize your chart of accounts to meet your specific business needs. Tailoring it allows you to categorize financial transactions that reflect your unique operations, enhancing clarity in reporting. You can add, modify, or remove accounts to align with your business model. Just make certain that your customization maintains compliance with accounting standards, facilitating accurate reporting and analysis. This flexibility can eventually improve financial management and decision-making in your organization. How Often Should I Update My Chart of Accounts? You should update your chart of accounts regularly, ideally at least once a year, or whenever significant changes occur in your business. This includes adding new accounts for different revenue streams or expenses, removing outdated ones, or adjusting account classifications. Keeping it current guarantees that your financial reporting accurately reflects your operations, making it easier to analyze performance, comply with regulations, and prepare for audits. Regular reviews help maintain the chart’s relevance and effectiveness. What Are the Consequences of a Poorly Structured Chart of Accounts? A poorly structured chart of accounts can lead to significant issues for your business. You may face difficulties in tracking financial performance accurately, resulting in poor decision-making. It can complicate tax preparation and compliance, increasing the risk of errors or audits. Moreover, inconsistent categorization of transactions can hinder financial reporting, making it hard to compare periods or assess profitability. In the end, these factors can affect your business’s credibility and financial health. Is Training Necessary for Staff to Understand the Chart of Accounts? Yes, training’s necessary for staff to understand the chart of accounts. Without proper training, employees may misinterpret account classifications, leading to inaccurate financial reporting. Training guarantees everyone knows how to use the chart effectively, which improves consistency across your organization. It helps staff understand the implications of each account and promotes better decision-making. Regular training sessions can likewise address updates or changes, guaranteeing that your team remains informed and efficient in their roles. Can I Integrate My Chart of Accounts With Other Financial Systems? Yes, you can integrate your chart of accounts with other financial systems, which streamlines your financial reporting and data management. Many accounting software platforms offer integration options, allowing you to synchronize data across systems. This integration guarantees consistency, reduces manual data entry errors, and improves overall efficiency. When selecting software, consider compatibility with your existing systems to facilitate a seamless integration process, eventually leading to more accurate financial analysis and decision-making. Conclusion Creating a standard Chart of Accounts is vital for effective financial management in your business. By systematically organizing accounts into assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses, you improve clarity and guarantee accurate reporting. Regularly review and update your CoA to align with your business’s growth and compliance needs. Utilizing accounting software can further streamline this process. Adopting best practices and avoiding common pitfalls will help you maintain a robust financial framework that supports informed decision-making. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How to Create a Standard Chart of Accounts for Your Business" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The company that the global firm is investing in owns a U.S. mortgage correspondent business and another domestic lender that does business with brokers. View the full article

U-turn by Brussels would be bitterly contested by environmental groupsView the full article

In a time when financial decisions are at the forefront of many conversations, small business owners must navigate a complex landscape of affordability and consumer sentiment. A recent survey conducted by CNBC and SurveyMonkey sheds light on how both small business owners and their customers perceive affordability in 2026. The findings reveal significant implications for businesses ranging from pricing strategies to customer engagement. The quarterly CNBC and SurveyMonkey Money Survey highlights a stark reality: consumers are increasingly worried about their financial situations. According to the survey, 69% of respondents express concerns about their financial well-being, which is a notable increase from previous quarters. This shift in sentiment presents both challenges and opportunities for small businesses striving to remain competitive. One key takeaway from the survey is the shifting landscape of consumer priorities. While many continue to prioritize experiences over material possessions, affordability remains a critical concern. “Consumers are looking for value,” says a leading economist involved in the survey. “Businesses that can convey the value proposition effectively will have a distinct advantage.” This presents an actionable insight for small business owners: framing products and services as valuable investments, rather than expenses, can help bridge the gap between customer concerns and purchasing decisions. Small business owners can harness the survey data to refine their pricing strategies. With a looming recession in the minds of many, transparent pricing and clear value messaging will resonate more with consumers. Offering promotions, discounts, or loyalty programs can build customer loyalty while addressing affordability challenges. For instance, a coffee shop might introduce a subscription model, allowing customers to enjoy their daily brew at a reduced rate, thereby reinforcing the sense of value and affordability. However, small business owners should also consider potential pitfalls. While the desire to attract cost-conscious consumers is strong, slashing prices indiscriminately can lead to diminished profit margins. “There’s a fine line between being competitive and compromising profitability,” warns a small business consultant. Additionally, focusing solely on affordability could distract businesses from enhancing their overall brand value. Finding the right balance will be essential for sustainable growth. Another interesting insight from the survey is the rising importance of financial literacy among consumers. As many individuals seek to better understand their financial situations, small businesses can capitalize on this trend by providing educational resources. Workshops, free online seminars, or informational blog posts can position a business as a trusted source of information, fostering community connections and driving customer loyalty. The survey indicates that younger generations, particularly Millennials and Gen Z, are driving this shift towards affordability while still seeking quality. According to the data, nearly 45% of respondents from these age groups would rather purchase from companies that prioritize ethical practices over lower prices. Small businesses that can showcase their commitment to sustainability and good practices may find a receptive audience even during challenging economic times. In essence, the CNBC and SurveyMonkey Money Survey illuminates a path for small business owners navigating a world increasingly concerned with affordability. By focusing on value, implementing transparent pricing strategies, and enhancing customer relationships, small businesses can not only survive but thrive in this evolving landscape. As financial pressures tighten for consumers, the insights gleaned from this survey can empower small business owners to adapt effectively. Emphasizing quality and value, while remaining mindful of pricing strategies, can lead to stronger customer relationships and a more robust bottom line. These findings underscore the importance of being attuned to consumer sentiment, as well as the necessity of ongoing adjustment to meet changing demands. For those interested in the full findings of the CNBC and SurveyMonkey Quarterly Money Survey, you can access the report here. Image via Google Gemini This article, "SurveyMonkey and CNBC Unveil New Insights on Q2 2026 Affordability" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Pause may put a lid on full-blown war without stopping hostilities or easing energy crisisView the full article

Google is rolling out App Consent Insights in Google Ads, giving advertisers a clearer view into how consent signals impact app campaign performance. What’s new. The new diagnostics view breaks down consent data across apps, platforms, regions, and traffic sources, helping marketers pinpoint gaps in their setup. Zoom in. Advertisers can see an overall consent rating — like “Excellent,” “Good,” or “Poor” — alongside a live count of apps actively sending consented data. A detailed table also shows consent rates for conversions, including splits between EEA and non-EEA users. Why we care. As privacy regulations tighten, consent isn’t just a compliance box — it directly affects measurement and optimization. Advertisers now get more visibility into where consent setups may be limiting performance. Between the lines. Google is making consent more measurable — and more actionable — as signal loss continues to impact campaign performance. What to watch. Expect advertisers to start optimizing not just for conversions, but for consent rates themselves as a performance lever. Bottom line. Better consent visibility means better data — and ultimately, better campaign outcomes. First seen. This update was first spotted by Google Ads specialist Thomas Eccel on LinkedIn. View the full article

The great jazz The Presidenteter Miles Davis once said, “Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself.” This is why the best artists are not only masterful at their craft but also distinctive in their voice; they’ve committed themselves to the process of being themselves. Subsequently, this means they committed themselves to the failure that comes along with it also. But that’s the part no one talks about—the work required to “become” who we are or, better yet, who we want to be. It’s as if we’re expected to go to the gym and walk out with a six-pack. That’s not how the gym works, nor is it how work works. And we know this. There’s a process to becoming, and that process inherently requires failure. Be that as it may, there are no LinkedIn claps reserved for failing. There are no at-a-boys for coming up short, despite the reality that we’ve all experienced failure to get to where we are. But of course, failure is just a natural part of the process of becoming. So why do we omit this truth from our stories when we tell the tale of becoming ourselves? Why do we whitewash the parts that aren’t so flattering and “yada yada yada” our narratives to a flatten expression of self. I get the fact that no one wants to fail, let alone admit to it. However, I also realize that in order to get good at something, we have to work through being not so good first. So, maybe we should practice sharing the entire story more frequently to help folks more successfully navigate this process of becoming. That’s exactly why we invited Courtnee LeClaire onto the FOR THE CULTURE podcast. LeClaire’s career trajectory consists of a who’s-who of brands. She was the head of worldwide app marketing and corporate partnerships at Apple after launching the iPod and iPhone. She’s held executive marketing seats at Disney and Intel before serving as CMO of the Oakland Raiders. But these days, LeClaire boasts a different title. Today, she is a chief “becoming” officer, an executive coach that helps leaders become their best selves, who they truly are, to help them achieve what Paul Coelho’s The Alchemist would call their personal legend. Despite her long list of impressive accomplishments, in this new role LeClaire spends more time talking about her failures, but she makes a pointed distinction between “failure” and “failing” that unlocks many of the challenges we have with failure. Failure, as LeClaire bifurcates, is a complete sentence. It’s done, and, therefore, it occupies real estate in our lives like a title—I failed, so I’m a failure. Failing, on the other hand, is an active sentence, meaning that there’s something that comes after it. And it’s the something that comes after it that enables us to do something about it. I’m failing, so I need to [fill the blank]. I was failing, so I [fill in a blank some action]. The reframing of failure to failing is what opens the door for success. Whether it’s something new or something new to us, there will be a point when we are failing relative to our ambition and taste. But when we perceive it as an active sentence, we give ourselves room to improve. Failure is something we experience, not who we are. It’s a moment in time, and because it’s something we’re merely experiencing, that means we can change it. This distinction is critical. One is a state of who we are (failure), and the other is a state of where we are (failing). When we reposition failure to failing (or I was failing), we acknowledge the reality of where we are relative to where we want to be and can now honor the fact that this is just a part of the process. To hear this from LeClaire during our conversation on the pod had a profound impact on me personally because I worked with her during my time at Apple. She was much more senior than I was, and I “totemized” her as the consummate example of having it all together. She wasn’t in my reporting vertical, but I got to engage her from time to time, where she’d drop marketing wisdom and sage advice for how to navigate life on One Infinite Loop. To hear her reveal her moments of failing on her way to becoming, even in those moments when I held her on a pedestal, was like learning that Spiderman is really Peter Parker. That is to say, LeClaire, like all of us, had to play a lot to learn to play like herself. Fancy that. Hearing this not only humanized LeClaire but also gave me permission to admit to my own failings and accept the fact that we’re all just buffering, even the best of us, as we become our best selves. Imagine how empowering that would be if we all started to share our own processes of becoming, moving from failure to failing; it might help us all navigate the process with a bit more grace—and perhaps even a bit more success. Check out the full episode of our conversation with Courtnee LeClaire on the latest episode of the FOR THE CULTURE podcast on Spotify or wherever you get your podcast. View the full article

Advertisers are sharing their experience of a new Ads Manager interface for ChatGPT, signaling a shift toward a more mature advertising platform with real-time campaign control. What’s new. The Ads Manager is described as a dashboard where marketers can run, monitor, and optimize campaigns in real time — a major step up from current reporting and controls. Digital marketers Juozas Kaziukėnas and Glenn Gabe shared images of what they saw. Why we care. Until now, ChatGPT ads have been early-stage and limited, with advertisers reportedly relying on basic reporting like weekly CSV files. The move to a full Ads Manager suggests OpenAI is building infrastructure closer to platforms like Google Ads or Meta. Zoom in. Advertisers are already seeing more ads appear inside ChatGPT, with brands like Best Buy and Expedia spotted in early tests. That increase in inventory, paired with a proper management interface, points to a rapid expansion of monetization efforts. What to watch: As the Ads Manager evolves, expect improvements in targeting, reporting, and automation — areas where early feedback suggests ChatGPT ads are still limited. First seen. Glenn Gabe shared the images of the ChatGPT ads manager on X. View the full article

Personal credit plays a significant role in obtaining business loans, as lenders assess your credit score during the approval process. A score above 700 usually results in better loan terms, whereas scores under 680 can limit your financing options. This credit evaluation affects not just traditional lenders but additionally the Small Business Administration and online lenders. Comprehending how your personal credit influences these decisions can be essential for your business’s financial future. What steps can you take to strengthen your credit profile? Key Takeaways Personal credit scores significantly influence loan approval, with higher scores improving chances of securing financing for businesses. Lenders often use personal credit as a risk assessment tool, affecting interest rates and loan terms offered to borrowers. Scores below 680 complicate approvals from traditional lenders, while SBA loans may accept scores as low as 650. Strong personal credit can enhance business credit, leading to better financing options and lower costs in the long run. Effective management of personal credit through timely payments and reduced debt improves overall funding opportunities for business growth. Understanding Personal Credit Scores Comprehending personal credit scores is critical for anyone looking to secure financing, particularly for business loans. Your personal credit score, which ranges from 300 to 850, considerably influences your ability to obtain funding. Lenders often consider scores above 700 favorable, as they indicate lower credit risk. So, does personal credit affect business credit? Absolutely. A solid personal credit score can help you secure better loan terms, whereas a low score complicates approval, especially with traditional lenders. Many online lenders may accept scores below 650, but often at higher interest rates. It’s also important to understand business credit vs personal credit; although they’re distinct, your personal credit can impact your business credit. In short, do business loans use personal credit? Yes, they often do, making it vital to manage your personal credit score effectively to improve your financing options for your business. How Personal Credit Scores Are Calculated Grasping how personal credit scores are calculated is vital for anyone aiming to improve their financial standing. Your credit score hinges on five key factors. First, payment history accounts for 35% of your score; this includes any late payments or bankruptcies. Next, the debt owed contributes 30%, which assesses your debt-to-credit limit ratio. Keeping your balances low relative to your available credit is fundamental. The length of your credit history makes up 15% of the score, considering how long your credit accounts have been active. Furthermore, the types of credit used contribute 10%, indicating the variety of credit sources you have. Finally, new credit inquiries, likewise 10%, can negatively affect your score if you have multiple hard inquiries in a short timeframe, suggesting potential financial instability. Comprehending these factors helps you manage your credit effectively, leading to better financial opportunities. The Impact of Personal Credit on Loan Approval Your personal credit plays a significant role in determining whether you’ll secure a loan for your business. Lenders closely evaluate your personal credit score alongside your business credit profile. A score below 680 can complicate approvals from traditional lenders, whereas scores above 700 are typically preferred. The Small Business Administration may accept scores as low as 650, but lower scores can hinder your chances. Here’s a breakdown of how personal credit factors into loan approval: Credit Score Range Loan Approval Likelihood Below 650 Low; high interest rates 650 – 679 Moderate; potential hurdles 680 – 699 Good; may need additional info 700 – 749 Strong; favorable terms 750 and above Excellent; easy approval Options for Borrowers With Varying Credit Scores How do different credit scores affect your options when seeking a business loan? Your personal credit score plays an essential role in the types of loans available to you. Here’s what to expect based on your score: Excellent Credit (700+): You’ll likely secure favorable terms and lower interest rates from traditional lenders. Good Credit (650-700): SBA loans may be an option, but you’ll need other strong business metrics for approval. Fair Credit (600-649): Qualifying for traditional loans can be tough, yet online lenders might consider your application, albeit at higher interest rates. Poor Credit (below 600): Your options diminish considerably, and you may face challenges in securing any loan. Impact of Credit Score: Lower scores often lead to shorter loan terms and increased total interest costs. Understanding these options can help you navigate your borrowing strategy effectively. The Importance of Managing Personal Credit Managing personal credit is a fundamental aspect of securing business financing, as lenders often evaluate personal credit scores when determining a borrower’s overall creditworthiness. A solid personal credit score can improve your chances of obtaining business loans. To maintain a good score, make timely bill payments and keep credit card balances low, as this indicates reliability to lenders. Here’s a quick look at how to improve your personal credit: Action Description Impact on Credit Score Timely Payments Pay bills on time Positive Reduce Debt Lower outstanding balances Positive Keep Accounts Open Maintain older accounts Positive Limit New Applications Avoid opening too many new accounts Negative Understanding these personal credit management strategies is essential for entrepreneurs. It maximizes funding opportunities and supports business growth effectively. Building a Strong Business Credit Profile To build a strong business credit profile, start by establishing business credit accounts in your company’s name. Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio, ideally under 30%, shows lenders that you manage your finances responsibly. Establishing Business Credit Accounts Establishing business credit accounts is a vital step for any entrepreneur looking to build a strong business credit profile. To effectively do this, you should consider the following actions: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your business. Open a business credit profile with major credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet. Apply for a business credit card to start establishing credit. Set up vendor lines of credit with suppliers that report payments. Make timely payments on all credit accounts to improve your credit score. These steps help you create a solid credit history, which is important for securing future loans and demonstrating your reliability to lenders. Regularly monitoring your credit reports for accuracy can further elevate your standing. Maintaining Low Credit Utilization Building a strong business credit profile goes beyond simply establishing accounts; maintaining a low credit utilization ratio is a key factor in demonstrating financial responsibility. Ideally, you should keep your credit utilization below 30%, with lenders favoring rates of 10% or lower. This indicates that you can manage debts effectively and aren’t overly reliant on credit. Regularly monitoring your credit utilization helps you identify areas for improvement, protecting your creditworthiness. Using American Express credit cards for operational expenses during keeping balances low can considerably improve your credit profile, nurturing trust with lenders and vendors. Credit Utilization Rate Impact on Credit Profile Below 10% Excellent 10% – 30% Good 30% – 50% Fair Above 50% Poor Frequently Asked Questions Does Personal Credit Affect a Business Loan? Yes, personal credit does affect a business loan. Lenders often evaluate your personal credit score to determine your reliability as a borrower. A score below 680 can lead to difficulties in securing traditional loans, whereas a score above 700 is usually favored. Even the Small Business Administration has minimum score requirements. Maintaining a strong personal credit profile is crucial, as it can influence both the approval process and the terms of your business financing. Does Personal Credit Rating Affect Business Loans? Yes, your personal credit rating greatly affects your ability to secure business loans. Lenders often review both personal and business credit profiles, evaluating factors like your payment history and debt levels. A score below 680 can complicate approval processes, whereas scores above 700 typically lead to better loan terms. Even the Small Business Administration considers personal scores, with a minimum of 650, but lower scores can limit your financing options markedly. Can I Get a Business Loan if I Personally Have Bad Credit? You can still get a business loan with bad personal credit, but your options may be limited. Traditional lenders typically require a higher credit score, often above 700. If your score is below 680, you’ll face challenges. Some online lenders accept lower scores, but they often charge higher interest rates. Furthermore, programs like SBA loans might be available if your overall financial situation is strong, in spite of a low personal credit score. Can I Get a Business Loan Without Using Personal Credit? You can secure a business loan without using personal credit, but it often depends on the lender. Some online lenders and alternative options may not check personal credit; nevertheless, they typically charge higher interest rates. Many traditional lenders, on the other hand, still require a personal guarantee, linking your personal credit to the loan. If your business has a strong credit history and solid revenue, you might qualify based on those financials instead. Conclusion In conclusion, personal credit plays a crucial role in obtaining business loans, as lenders assess your credit score to determine eligibility and loan terms. A strong score can open doors to favorable financing options, whereas a lower score may limit your choices. It’s important to actively manage your personal credit and consider building a robust business credit profile. By comprehending these dynamics, you can improve your chances of securing the financial support needed for your entrepreneurial endeavors. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Role Does Personal Credit Play in Business Loans?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Personal credit plays a significant role in obtaining business loans, as lenders assess your credit score during the approval process. A score above 700 usually results in better loan terms, whereas scores under 680 can limit your financing options. This credit evaluation affects not just traditional lenders but additionally the Small Business Administration and online lenders. Comprehending how your personal credit influences these decisions can be essential for your business’s financial future. What steps can you take to strengthen your credit profile? Key Takeaways Personal credit scores significantly influence loan approval, with higher scores improving chances of securing financing for businesses. Lenders often use personal credit as a risk assessment tool, affecting interest rates and loan terms offered to borrowers. Scores below 680 complicate approvals from traditional lenders, while SBA loans may accept scores as low as 650. Strong personal credit can enhance business credit, leading to better financing options and lower costs in the long run. Effective management of personal credit through timely payments and reduced debt improves overall funding opportunities for business growth. Understanding Personal Credit Scores Comprehending personal credit scores is critical for anyone looking to secure financing, particularly for business loans. Your personal credit score, which ranges from 300 to 850, considerably influences your ability to obtain funding. Lenders often consider scores above 700 favorable, as they indicate lower credit risk. So, does personal credit affect business credit? Absolutely. A solid personal credit score can help you secure better loan terms, whereas a low score complicates approval, especially with traditional lenders. Many online lenders may accept scores below 650, but often at higher interest rates. It’s also important to understand business credit vs personal credit; although they’re distinct, your personal credit can impact your business credit. In short, do business loans use personal credit? Yes, they often do, making it vital to manage your personal credit score effectively to improve your financing options for your business. How Personal Credit Scores Are Calculated Grasping how personal credit scores are calculated is vital for anyone aiming to improve their financial standing. Your credit score hinges on five key factors. First, payment history accounts for 35% of your score; this includes any late payments or bankruptcies. Next, the debt owed contributes 30%, which assesses your debt-to-credit limit ratio. Keeping your balances low relative to your available credit is fundamental. The length of your credit history makes up 15% of the score, considering how long your credit accounts have been active. Furthermore, the types of credit used contribute 10%, indicating the variety of credit sources you have. Finally, new credit inquiries, likewise 10%, can negatively affect your score if you have multiple hard inquiries in a short timeframe, suggesting potential financial instability. Comprehending these factors helps you manage your credit effectively, leading to better financial opportunities. The Impact of Personal Credit on Loan Approval Your personal credit plays a significant role in determining whether you’ll secure a loan for your business. Lenders closely evaluate your personal credit score alongside your business credit profile. A score below 680 can complicate approvals from traditional lenders, whereas scores above 700 are typically preferred. The Small Business Administration may accept scores as low as 650, but lower scores can hinder your chances. Here’s a breakdown of how personal credit factors into loan approval: Credit Score Range Loan Approval Likelihood Below 650 Low; high interest rates 650 – 679 Moderate; potential hurdles 680 – 699 Good; may need additional info 700 – 749 Strong; favorable terms 750 and above Excellent; easy approval Options for Borrowers With Varying Credit Scores How do different credit scores affect your options when seeking a business loan? Your personal credit score plays an essential role in the types of loans available to you. Here’s what to expect based on your score: Excellent Credit (700+): You’ll likely secure favorable terms and lower interest rates from traditional lenders. Good Credit (650-700): SBA loans may be an option, but you’ll need other strong business metrics for approval. Fair Credit (600-649): Qualifying for traditional loans can be tough, yet online lenders might consider your application, albeit at higher interest rates. Poor Credit (below 600): Your options diminish considerably, and you may face challenges in securing any loan. Impact of Credit Score: Lower scores often lead to shorter loan terms and increased total interest costs. Understanding these options can help you navigate your borrowing strategy effectively. The Importance of Managing Personal Credit Managing personal credit is a fundamental aspect of securing business financing, as lenders often evaluate personal credit scores when determining a borrower’s overall creditworthiness. A solid personal credit score can improve your chances of obtaining business loans. To maintain a good score, make timely bill payments and keep credit card balances low, as this indicates reliability to lenders. Here’s a quick look at how to improve your personal credit: Action Description Impact on Credit Score Timely Payments Pay bills on time Positive Reduce Debt Lower outstanding balances Positive Keep Accounts Open Maintain older accounts Positive Limit New Applications Avoid opening too many new accounts Negative Understanding these personal credit management strategies is essential for entrepreneurs. It maximizes funding opportunities and supports business growth effectively. Building a Strong Business Credit Profile To build a strong business credit profile, start by establishing business credit accounts in your company’s name. Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio, ideally under 30%, shows lenders that you manage your finances responsibly. Establishing Business Credit Accounts Establishing business credit accounts is a vital step for any entrepreneur looking to build a strong business credit profile. To effectively do this, you should consider the following actions: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for your business. Open a business credit profile with major credit bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet. Apply for a business credit card to start establishing credit. Set up vendor lines of credit with suppliers that report payments. Make timely payments on all credit accounts to improve your credit score. These steps help you create a solid credit history, which is important for securing future loans and demonstrating your reliability to lenders. Regularly monitoring your credit reports for accuracy can further elevate your standing. Maintaining Low Credit Utilization Building a strong business credit profile goes beyond simply establishing accounts; maintaining a low credit utilization ratio is a key factor in demonstrating financial responsibility. Ideally, you should keep your credit utilization below 30%, with lenders favoring rates of 10% or lower. This indicates that you can manage debts effectively and aren’t overly reliant on credit. Regularly monitoring your credit utilization helps you identify areas for improvement, protecting your creditworthiness. Using American Express credit cards for operational expenses during keeping balances low can considerably improve your credit profile, nurturing trust with lenders and vendors. Credit Utilization Rate Impact on Credit Profile Below 10% Excellent 10% – 30% Good 30% – 50% Fair Above 50% Poor Frequently Asked Questions Does Personal Credit Affect a Business Loan? Yes, personal credit does affect a business loan. Lenders often evaluate your personal credit score to determine your reliability as a borrower. A score below 680 can lead to difficulties in securing traditional loans, whereas a score above 700 is usually favored. Even the Small Business Administration has minimum score requirements. Maintaining a strong personal credit profile is crucial, as it can influence both the approval process and the terms of your business financing. Does Personal Credit Rating Affect Business Loans? Yes, your personal credit rating greatly affects your ability to secure business loans. Lenders often review both personal and business credit profiles, evaluating factors like your payment history and debt levels. A score below 680 can complicate approval processes, whereas scores above 700 typically lead to better loan terms. Even the Small Business Administration considers personal scores, with a minimum of 650, but lower scores can limit your financing options markedly. Can I Get a Business Loan if I Personally Have Bad Credit? You can still get a business loan with bad personal credit, but your options may be limited. Traditional lenders typically require a higher credit score, often above 700. If your score is below 680, you’ll face challenges. Some online lenders accept lower scores, but they often charge higher interest rates. Furthermore, programs like SBA loans might be available if your overall financial situation is strong, in spite of a low personal credit score. Can I Get a Business Loan Without Using Personal Credit? You can secure a business loan without using personal credit, but it often depends on the lender. Some online lenders and alternative options may not check personal credit; nevertheless, they typically charge higher interest rates. Many traditional lenders, on the other hand, still require a personal guarantee, linking your personal credit to the loan. If your business has a strong credit history and solid revenue, you might qualify based on those financials instead. Conclusion In conclusion, personal credit plays a crucial role in obtaining business loans, as lenders assess your credit score to determine eligibility and loan terms. A strong score can open doors to favorable financing options, whereas a lower score may limit your choices. It’s important to actively manage your personal credit and consider building a robust business credit profile. By comprehending these dynamics, you can improve your chances of securing the financial support needed for your entrepreneurial endeavors. Image via Google Gemini and ArtSmart This article, "What Role Does Personal Credit Play in Business Loans?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Netflix's May slate is heavy on sports and comedy, including live events and documentaries in both categories. The streaming service will carry the full lineup of F1 Canadian GP weekend events, starting with spring qualifying on May 22 and ending with the race on May 24. Netflix will also host its first live MMA broadcast—Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano—on May 16. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup this summer, there are also a handful of soccer documentaries: USA 94: Brazil's Return to Glory (May 7) covers Brazil's World Cup run, while The Bus: A French Football Mutiny (May 13) looks at controversy surrounding France's 2010 bid. Several football-focused Untold UK episodes are dropping in May as well. Finally, Rafa (May 29) is a documentary series about Rafael Nadal's tennis career and final season. On the comedy side, competition series Funny AF with Kevin Hart will wrap up live on May 5. Also live is The Roast of Kevin Hart, airing on May 11 as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival. Wanda Sykes has a new standup hour (Legacy, May 19), and the month wraps up with AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy (May 31), a ceremony honoring the comedian's life and work. Other highlights in May are the debut of Mating Season (May 22), a new adult animated comedy series from Big Mouth creator Nick Kroll about love, sex, and relationships in the animal world; and Ladies First (May 22), a comedy film starring Sacha Baron Cohen and Rosamund Pike. Tina Fey's comedy series The Four Seasons (May 28), in which she stars alongside Steve Carrell, also returns for a second season. Here's everything else coming to Netflix in May, and everything that's leaving. What's coming to Netflix in May 2026Available soon Jae-seok's B&B Rules!—Netflix Series Available May 1Glory—Netflix Series My Dearest Señorita—Netflix Film Son-In-Law—Netflix Film Swapped—Netflix Family 13 Going on 30 48 Hrs. Airport Airport '77 Airport 1975 Bad News Bears The Boss The Breakfast Club Burn After Reading Den of Thieves Domestic Disturbance Eat Pray Love Fried Green Tomatoes Green Book Hitch Home Jennifer's Body Jumanji Jumping the Broom La Brea: Seasons 1-3 The Land Before Time Meet the Parents Meet the Fockers Little Fockers National Lampoon's Animal House Ouija Ouija: Origin of Evil Pretty Woman The Proposal Schindler's List Starship Troopers Trainwreck Under the Skin Veronica Mars Waterworld Available May 4Dr. Seuss’s Horton!: Season 2—Netflix Family Funny AF with Kevin Hart—Netflix Live Event Lord of the Flies—Netflix Series Available May 5Funny AF with Kevin Hart—Netflix Live Event Available May 6Countdown: Rousey vs. Carano—Netflix Documentary Love is Blind Poland—Netflix Series Worst Ex Ever: Season 2—Netflix Series Available May 7The Chestnut Man: Hide and Seek—Netflix Series Legends—Netflix Series My Dearest Assassin—Netflix Film USA 94: Brazil's Return to Glory—Netflix Documentary Available May 8My Royal Nemesis—Netflix Series Remarkably Bright Creatures—Netflix Film Thank You, Next: Season 3—Netflix Series Available May 10The Roast of Kevin Hart—Netflix Live Event Available May 11Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris Pop Culture Jeopardy!—Netflix Series Available May 12Devil May Cry: Season 2—Netflix Series Marty, Life Is Short—Netflix Documentary Untold UK: Jamie Vardy—Netflix Documentary Available May 13Between Father and Son—Netflix Series The Bus: A French Football Mutiny—Netflix Documentary Perfect Match: Season 4—Netflix Series Roosters: Season 2—Netflix Series Available May 14Nemesis—Netflix Series Soul Mate—Netflix Series Available May 15Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine—Netflix Series The Crash—Netflix Documentary The WONDERfools—Netflix Series Available May 16Black Phone 2 Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano—Netflix Live Event Available May 18Abraham Lincoln: Season 1 FDR: Season 1 Grant: Season 1 The Great War Law and Order: Season 23-24 Navy SEALs: America's Secret Warriors : Seasons 1-2 Nope Theodore Roosevelt: Season 1 Thomas Jefferson: Season 1 Washington: Season 1 Available May 19Untold UK: Liverpool's Miracle of Istanbul—Netflix Documentary Wanda Sykes: Legacy—Netflix Comedy Special Available May 20Carizzma—Netflix Series Available May 21The Boroughs—Netflix Series James.—Netflix Documentary Available May 22Canada: Sprint Qualifying—Netflix Live Event F1 Canadian Grand Prix: Practice 1—Netflix Live Event Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie Ladies First—Netflix Film Mating Season—Netflix Series Available May 23F1 Canadian Grand Prix: Qualifying—Netflix Live Event F1 Canadian Grand Prix: Sprint—Netflix Live Event Available May 24F1 Canadian Grand Prix: Race—Netflix Live Event Available May 26Untold UK: Vinnie Jones—Netflix Documentary Available May 27A Good Girl's Guide to Murder: Season 2—Netflix Series My 2 Cents—Netflix Series Room to Move Available May 28Dead Man's Wire The Four Seasons: Season 2—Netflix Series Murder Mindfully: Season 2—Netflix Series Available May 29Brazil '70: The Third Star—Netflix Series Calabasas Confidential—Netflix Series Rafa—Netflix Documentary Available May 30K-Pops! Available May 31AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy—Netflix Comedy Special The Theory of Everything What's leaving Netflix in May 2026Leaving May 1Blue Mountain State: Seasons 1-3 Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland Focus Hell or High Water How to Train Your Dragon How to Train Your Dragon 2 Joy Ride Lee Daniels' The Butler Sicario You've Got Mail Leaving May 2Peninsula Train to Busan Leaving May 9Documentary Now!: Seasons 1-4 Sing Street Leaving May 16Widow Clicquot Leaving May 20The Addams Family The Addams Family 2 Leaving May 21Crossroads Leaving May 26Pig Leaving May 31Dirty John: Betty Broderick Dirty John: John Meehan Your Honor: Seasons 1-2 View the full article

A reader writes: Some colleagues and I have a question on interview etiquette from the interviewer side that we can’t agree on. If you give someone a job interview, should you give them a way to contact you? My thinking is, yes, if you interview a job candidate, you should give them either your work phone or work email so they can follow up if they need to. For example, what if they need to withdraw their application? Or if they have a change of phone number or email address they need to inform you about? Or if they would just like to send a thank-you/follow-up email after the interview? The other two managers on our team don’t like providing this information. They have had negative experiences in the past (one candidate calling way too often to check in, and another incident where a candidate called and yelled at the interviewer) and prefer to conduct phone interviews from a conference room phone line so their office number or work email isn’t shared. My worry is we never go back and check that conference line’s messages so if someone calls and leaves a message, they may be frustrated if no one returns their calls. Also, I think how candidates do or do not follow up can give us good information on if we should hire them (for example, the guy who called and yelled was not hired!). So what is considered standard practice? And does it change depending on first-round interviews vs second-round or in-person vs over the phone? I answer this question over at Inc. today, where I’m revisiting letters that have been buried in the archives here from years ago (and sometimes updating/expanding my answers to them). You can read it here. The post should I give job candidates a way to contact me? appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

While its geographic footprint is all west of the Mississippi, convenience store operator Yesway Inc. is making New York City headlines this week with its initial public offering (IPO). The company expects to begin trading Wednesday on the Nasdaq under the YSWY ticker. In the wake of global convenience store giant 7-Eleven announcing that it will close over 600 locations in the United States, it’s an interesting time for a smaller convenience store chain on the rise to go public. Seven & i Holdings, the Japan-based owner of 7-Eleven, recently delayed an IPO of its North American unit. Yesway hasn’t yet announced any plans for an expansion of its 440-plus-store, nine-state footprint, but the first returns on the IPO pave the way for that in the future. The company also owns the Allsup’s convenience store chain. Here’s what you need to know about Yesway, which is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. What is Yesway? Yesway Inc. is the owner of the Yesway and Allsup’s convenience store chains, with 448 locations across nine states, most prominently in West Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Yesway opened in 2015 with the financial backing of Boston-based Brookwood Financial Partners, and has since expanded. The company is known for selling Allsup’s Burritos, but it also sells all of your typical convenience store goods, such as coffee, hot food, snacks, fountain drinks, and alcohol. Last year, Yesway generated revenue of $2.67 billion and reported net income of $54 million, according to a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). When is Yesway’s IPO? Yesway priced its shares on Tuesday and expects to begin trading today. It filed for IPO initially in 2021, but withdrew in 2022 due to rising interest rates, Bloomberg reports. In a more active IPO market, it refiled and is finally offering now. What is Yesway’s Stock Ticker? The company will be traded under the YSWY ticker on the Nasdaq exchange. What is the IPO share price of Yesway? The IPO share price for Yesway is $20. How much will Yesway raise in its IPO? Yesway sold approximately 14 million shares at that $20 price point, raising $280 million. How much is Yesway worth? That IPO price gives Yesway a valuation of approximately $1.2 billion, Bloomberg estimates. View the full article

SpaceX still has deep roots in the rocket business, but the Elon Musk-owned company is doubling down on artificial intelligence as it prepares for an IPO. In a social media post Monday afternoon, SpaceX announced it had started a working relationship with AI coding startup Cursor, which includes an option to buy the company for $60 billion. (Should SpaceX decide against buying Cursor, it will pay $10 billion for its work.) “The combination of Cursor’s leading product and distribution to expert software engineers with SpaceX’s million H100 equivalent Colossus training supercomputer will allow us to build the world’s most useful models,” the company said in the post. The announcement comes just over two months after SpaceX acquired Musk’s xAI, which runs the Grok chatbot. It also comes as the rocket company prepares for what is expected to be a record-setting IPO later this year, potentially bringing in billions of dollars. Cursor is a standalone startup that offers AI that writes code and debugs software, much like Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex. The product is called Composer. The tool, which has been publicly praised by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, learns a developer’s coding style, then autocompletes, reviews, and, when necessary, edits code. Users can switch between different AI models at present, which has increased Cursor’s costs. Composer has achieved cult status among many tech companies, though critics say Composer can be slow, especially when used with larger codebases. (It also suffered a PR black eye when its customer support AI hallucinated, triggering a wave of cancellations.) While many investors expect AI companies to play a major role in future development, the systems are currently major financial drains. xAI, for instance, reported a net loss of $1.46 billion in the quarter ending Sept. 30, 2025, and lost $1 billion the quarter before that. More than 60% of SpaceX’s 2025 revenue came from the Starlink satellite internet service, according to reports based on the company’s confidential IPO paperwork. Still, the company is reinventing itself with a heavy focus on AI as that IPO looms. Cursor was founded in 2023 by four MIT graduates, all still in their 20s. It raised $2.3 billion in funding last November from investors including Nvidia and Google, giving it a valuation of $29.3 billion at the time. The SpaceX offer is more than twice that amount. The founders had previously resisted takeover offers from major AI companies. Michael Truell, co-founder and chief executive officer of Cursor, told The Wall Street Journal last year that “all of the AI labs are important partners to us.” An acquisition by SpaceX would likely change Cursor’s relationship with AI giants such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which are xAI competitors (and the history between Musk and OpenAI is a tense one, to put it mildly, with a fierce court battle between the two beginning soon). “Excited to partner with the SpaceX team to scale up Composer,” Truell wrote on X after the deal was announced. “A meaningful step on our path to build the best place to code with AI.” Musk has been focusing more attention on the AI sector recently. In addition to merging SpaceX and xAI, he unveiled plans last month for the Terafab chip manufacturing factory in Austin, Texas, which will produce chips for SpaceX and xAI. While xAI and other artificial intelligence companies have largely depended on TSMC, Samsung, and Micron for the chips that power their systems, Musk said existing semiconductor manufacturers were not producing chips fast enough for his needs. Intel said earlier this month it had joined forces with Musk to help with manufacturing at the facility, though details about the arrangement were not announced. View the full article