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Body says regulation shuts firms out of lucrative quality assurance businessView the full article

Chancellor’s meeting with financial services groups expected to focus on visas, regulation and taxView the full article

Proposal draws backlash from industry, warning it could damage ‘trust’View the full article

New attempts to prolong the fossil fuel era have come at precisely the wrong time View the full article

Budget AI model triggers global reappraisal of Chinese technology companiesView the full article

The White House has tapped former Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. director Jonathan McKernan to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and attorney Jonathan Gould to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency late Tuesday. View the full article

The home service industry is poised for growth in 2025, fueled by a recovering housing market, increasing consumer confidence, and record-high adoption of digital payments, according to Jobber’s latest Home Service Economic Report: 2024 Review and 2025 Outlook. The report, which aggregates data from over 250,000 home service professionals, details key economic trends and sector-specific insights driving momentum in the industry. Industry Recovery and Market Drivers The report indicates that consumer demand is rebounding, despite economic uncertainty in 2024. While the number of scheduled jobs declined, businesses sustained revenue by adjusting pricing and increasing job sizes. The 5.8% rise in single-family home prices in Q4 2024 has encouraged homeowners to invest in renovations, repairs, and remodeling projects. New housing construction is also expanding, with late-year growth in housing starts signaling greater demand for home service professionals. Additionally, digital payments continued their rapid ascent, with nearly 50% of transactions made digitally in 2024, a figure expected to surpass 50% in 2025. “Our latest report highlights how businesses navigated shifting consumer demand, leveraged digital tools, and adapted their pricing strategies to stay competitive in 2024,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder at Jobber. “Despite lingering inflation concerns and uncertainty around interest rates, our data shows that demand for home services is rebounding. As the economy stabilizes and policy decisions unfold in 2025, Home Service entrepreneurs have a strong opportunity for growth and long-term success.” Segment-Specific Performance The report breaks down trends across key home service segments, including Green, Cleaning, Contracting, and Construction. Green: The sector, which includes lawn care and landscaping, faced volatility in 2024, with a spring downturn in scheduled work followed by a late-year rebound. Revenue remained steady as businesses offset lower job volumes with higher-ticket services and pricing adjustments. Cleaning: Encompassing residential and commercial cleaning services, the sector saw a slowdown in scheduled work but recovered in the second half of the year. Pricing adjustments helped sustain revenue growth. Contracting: Trades including electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians faced difficulties scheduling new work early in 2024 but experienced a late-year rebound. Construction: Both residential and commercial construction experienced early-year slowdowns but saw surges in April and July before stabilizing. The sector is positioned for improvement with the housing market’s recovery. Outlook for 2025: Cautious Optimism Despite positive indicators, external factors such as political uncertainty and material costs could impact business operations in 2025. “We have a positive but cautious outlook for 2025,” said Abheek Dhawan, Senior VP, Strategy & Analytics at Jobber. “Home Service businesses are seeing more new work get scheduled, steady revenue growth, and a continued increase in digital adoption. On the other hand, there is considerable political uncertainty at the moment, which could impact businesses when they’re purchasing materials. On the whole, the Home Service category remains a critical driver of economic activity in America, and one that is relatively insulated from volatility.” With digital transformation accelerating and consumer spending stabilizing, home service businesses are expected to see continued growth opportunities in the coming year. This article, "Jobber Report Signals Home Service Industry Growth Amid Housing Recovery and Digital Payment Surge" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

The home service industry is poised for growth in 2025, fueled by a recovering housing market, increasing consumer confidence, and record-high adoption of digital payments, according to Jobber’s latest Home Service Economic Report: 2024 Review and 2025 Outlook. The report, which aggregates data from over 250,000 home service professionals, details key economic trends and sector-specific insights driving momentum in the industry. Industry Recovery and Market Drivers The report indicates that consumer demand is rebounding, despite economic uncertainty in 2024. While the number of scheduled jobs declined, businesses sustained revenue by adjusting pricing and increasing job sizes. The 5.8% rise in single-family home prices in Q4 2024 has encouraged homeowners to invest in renovations, repairs, and remodeling projects. New housing construction is also expanding, with late-year growth in housing starts signaling greater demand for home service professionals. Additionally, digital payments continued their rapid ascent, with nearly 50% of transactions made digitally in 2024, a figure expected to surpass 50% in 2025. “Our latest report highlights how businesses navigated shifting consumer demand, leveraged digital tools, and adapted their pricing strategies to stay competitive in 2024,” said Sam Pillar, CEO & co-founder at Jobber. “Despite lingering inflation concerns and uncertainty around interest rates, our data shows that demand for home services is rebounding. As the economy stabilizes and policy decisions unfold in 2025, Home Service entrepreneurs have a strong opportunity for growth and long-term success.” Segment-Specific Performance The report breaks down trends across key home service segments, including Green, Cleaning, Contracting, and Construction. Green: The sector, which includes lawn care and landscaping, faced volatility in 2024, with a spring downturn in scheduled work followed by a late-year rebound. Revenue remained steady as businesses offset lower job volumes with higher-ticket services and pricing adjustments. Cleaning: Encompassing residential and commercial cleaning services, the sector saw a slowdown in scheduled work but recovered in the second half of the year. Pricing adjustments helped sustain revenue growth. Contracting: Trades including electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians faced difficulties scheduling new work early in 2024 but experienced a late-year rebound. Construction: Both residential and commercial construction experienced early-year slowdowns but saw surges in April and July before stabilizing. The sector is positioned for improvement with the housing market’s recovery. Outlook for 2025: Cautious Optimism Despite positive indicators, external factors such as political uncertainty and material costs could impact business operations in 2025. “We have a positive but cautious outlook for 2025,” said Abheek Dhawan, Senior VP, Strategy & Analytics at Jobber. “Home Service businesses are seeing more new work get scheduled, steady revenue growth, and a continued increase in digital adoption. On the other hand, there is considerable political uncertainty at the moment, which could impact businesses when they’re purchasing materials. On the whole, the Home Service category remains a critical driver of economic activity in America, and one that is relatively insulated from volatility.” With digital transformation accelerating and consumer spending stabilizing, home service businesses are expected to see continued growth opportunities in the coming year. This article, "Jobber Report Signals Home Service Industry Growth Amid Housing Recovery and Digital Payment Surge" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Focus on your clients...or someone else will. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article

Focus on your clients...or someone else will. Gear Up for Growth With Jean Caragher For CPA Trendlines Go PRO for members-only access to more Jean Marie Caragher. View the full article

A new study by Xodo has identified Google Drive as the most widely used Google productivity tool in the United States, ranking ahead of Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Slides. The study, which analyzed monthly active users and global search volume, also found that New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island lead the country in Google app usage. Google Drive Leads in Productivity App Usage According to the research, Google Drive ranks as the most popular Google productivity tool, with 2 billion monthly active users and a global monthly search volume of 338 million. The cloud storage service, which allows users to store, access, and collaborate on files, achieved a Usage Score of 100. Other top-ranked Google productivity apps include: Gmail – 1.5 billion monthly active users, Usage Score: 41.04 Google Docs – 1 billion monthly active users, Usage Score: 24.26 Google Slides – 800 million monthly active users, Usage Score: 22.61 Google Sheets – 900 million monthly active users, Usage Score: 21.05 “The growing popularity of productivity tools reflects a collective shift toward smarter, more agile workflows,” said Reena Cruz, PDF Productivity Expert at Xodo. “Not only do the best productivity tools save time—they allow users to prioritize more meaningful work.” Regional Trends: Which States Use Google Productivity Tools the Most? The study also examined state-by-state search data to determine which parts of the U.S. use Google’s productivity suite the most. The top 10 states by search volume per 10,000 people are: New York – 3,943.04 searches Massachusetts – 3,928.07 searches Rhode Island – 3,385.15 searches California – 3,326.94 searches Colorado – 3,121.00 searches Virginia – 3,120.92 searches Maryland – 3,063.63 searches New Jersey – 3,052.68 searches Utah – 3,021.01 searches Washington – 2,958.83 searches New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Lead in Google App Usage New York topped the rankings, with 3,943.04 searches per 10,000 people. The state’s role as a financial and business hub contributes to heavy reliance on cloud-based collaboration tools. Massachusetts followed closely with 3,928.07 searches per 10,000 people, driven by academic institutions such as Harvard and MIT, where tools like Google Docs and Sheets are frequently used for research and education. Rhode Island placed third with 3,385.15 searches per 10,000 people, reflecting the state’s growing business and academic sectors that rely on productivity tools for communication and collaboration. With productivity tools now embedded in workplaces, schools, and creative industries, Google’s suite continues to play a central role in digital collaboration. The study underscores the increasing reliance on cloud-based productivity solutions, particularly in high-tech and education-driven regions. As demand for efficiency grows, Google Drive, Gmail, and Docs remain integral to everyday workflows, allowing businesses and individuals to streamline processes, manage tasks, and collaborate remotely. This article, "Google Drive Tops List of Most Used Google Productivity Apps in the U.S." was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

A new study by Xodo has identified Google Drive as the most widely used Google productivity tool in the United States, ranking ahead of Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Slides. The study, which analyzed monthly active users and global search volume, also found that New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island lead the country in Google app usage. Google Drive Leads in Productivity App Usage According to the research, Google Drive ranks as the most popular Google productivity tool, with 2 billion monthly active users and a global monthly search volume of 338 million. The cloud storage service, which allows users to store, access, and collaborate on files, achieved a Usage Score of 100. Other top-ranked Google productivity apps include: Gmail – 1.5 billion monthly active users, Usage Score: 41.04 Google Docs – 1 billion monthly active users, Usage Score: 24.26 Google Slides – 800 million monthly active users, Usage Score: 22.61 Google Sheets – 900 million monthly active users, Usage Score: 21.05 “The growing popularity of productivity tools reflects a collective shift toward smarter, more agile workflows,” said Reena Cruz, PDF Productivity Expert at Xodo. “Not only do the best productivity tools save time—they allow users to prioritize more meaningful work.” Regional Trends: Which States Use Google Productivity Tools the Most? The study also examined state-by-state search data to determine which parts of the U.S. use Google’s productivity suite the most. The top 10 states by search volume per 10,000 people are: New York – 3,943.04 searches Massachusetts – 3,928.07 searches Rhode Island – 3,385.15 searches California – 3,326.94 searches Colorado – 3,121.00 searches Virginia – 3,120.92 searches Maryland – 3,063.63 searches New Jersey – 3,052.68 searches Utah – 3,021.01 searches Washington – 2,958.83 searches New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island Lead in Google App Usage New York topped the rankings, with 3,943.04 searches per 10,000 people. The state’s role as a financial and business hub contributes to heavy reliance on cloud-based collaboration tools. Massachusetts followed closely with 3,928.07 searches per 10,000 people, driven by academic institutions such as Harvard and MIT, where tools like Google Docs and Sheets are frequently used for research and education. Rhode Island placed third with 3,385.15 searches per 10,000 people, reflecting the state’s growing business and academic sectors that rely on productivity tools for communication and collaboration. With productivity tools now embedded in workplaces, schools, and creative industries, Google’s suite continues to play a central role in digital collaboration. The study underscores the increasing reliance on cloud-based productivity solutions, particularly in high-tech and education-driven regions. As demand for efficiency grows, Google Drive, Gmail, and Docs remain integral to everyday workflows, allowing businesses and individuals to streamline processes, manage tasks, and collaborate remotely. This article, "Google Drive Tops List of Most Used Google Productivity Apps in the U.S." was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Small dwelling units are booming as solutions for affordable housing, camping, and glamping. But of most interest, at present, is the opportunity this category provides as a source of transitional housing during times of climate crisis and regional disasters such as the L.A. fires. California already had increasingly positive regulation toward accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and tiny homes prior to the January 2025 Los Angeles fires. In the wake of the current disaster, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass issued an emergency executive order: Return and Rebuild. This new mandate eliminates the significant regulatory hurdles of rebuilding to organize efforts with a theme of “urgency, common sense, and compassion.” We applaud this effort, which includes allowing the use of park models, RVs, and other structures as needed to allow owners of the 12,000-plus homes affected to recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. This is an area where the industry for sustainable and high-quality park models will shine. Beyond California, recovery efforts from other disasters are shining a floodlight on the need and benefit of affordable and weather-resistant small homes for many thousands of additional people throughout the U.S. and beyond. I recently interviewed Dan Fitzpatrick, the president of the Tiny Home Industry Association about these needs. Dan has 49 years’ experience in both public and private roles. He’s had a front-row view of the need and the power of public/private partnerships to accomplish projects such as the Rio Mesa master-planned community of 15,000 on the north side of Fresno, California, as well as Tesoro Vieja, a 400-acre planned lake community in the state’s Central Valley. What L.A. can learn from recent hurricane disasters in the southeast Dan and I have observed the damage across Florida and North Carolina from three catastrophic hurricanes in 2024: Debby, Helene, and Milton. FEMA responded to those disasters with approval for more than $2.1 billion in aid, including $931.7 million for housing repairs and personal property replacement, along with more than $1.18 billion to support local and state governments in recovery efforts including debris removal and emergency protective measures. These situations caused the demand for tiny homes as transitional housing to skyrocket. The units are proving to be especially beneficial in allowing homeowners continual proximity to manage and monitor the rebuilds and can serve as permanent and property-enhancing studios and accessory dwellings after the rebuilds are complete. California is following suit In addition to the emergency order by Mayor Bass, the January 2025 executive order by California Governor Gavin Newsom is expediting the rapid rebuilding efforts now required in L.A. This new order suspends key permitting and review requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act, to facilitate faster property restoration. As a response to natural disasters, we can anticipate the demand for tiny homes to surge well beyond the already aggressive predictions for growth. “The prefabricated home sector is on track to grow by more than $30 billion over the coming few years,” Dan told me. “Tiny homes hold the potential to be the ideal answer to increase our country’s resilience to natural disasters.” However, he also notes that while the importance of this category is increasingly obvious, there are critical nuances involved. Speed is our friend– but also our enemy. While Mayor Bass’s and Governor Newsom’s order are vital steps toward removing the bureaucratic hurdles to expedite rebuilding, we must strike the right balance between rapid reconstruction and adherence to environmental safeguards. The quality and nature of tiny homes is critical to avoid the prospect of having quickly erected small home communities turn into poorly constructed and badly located “shanty towns”—a worry large enough to lead some regions to enact regulation against them. NPR has also noted vast ranges in quality among tiny home shelters, ranging from “cabins with a cot to miniature houses with kitchens and bathrooms.” In my own company’s case, our Los Angeles, California facility, in operation since 2022, has more than tripled its capacity in 2024 to 24/7 operation to meet the rising demand. We are 3D printing homes from recycled polymers and fiberglass to create units that are energy efficient and sustainable as well weather resilient. Clearly the need and the demand for high quality, sustainable and weather resistant tiny homes has never been higher. It is an industry that will impact all areas of the U.S. and the regions beyond in 2025 and in the years and seasons to come. Gene Eidelman is the cofounder of Azure Printed Homes. View the full article

My mother was always the last parent to pick me up from gymnastics practice. While other moms arrived in jeans, she’d sweep in wearing a power suit, fresh from her role as a senior marketing executive at a major software company. At the time, it was a bit embarrassing. Looking back, I realize I was witnessing someone who refused to accept artificial limitations on what she could achieve. Years later, as a CMO, I’ve come to appreciate how those early lessons shaped my understanding of professional possibilities. As a CMO in the ‘80s, my mother was a trailblazer—it was not typical for a woman to have a seat at the board table. But I’ve also learned that even with strong role models, we can still construct invisible barriers that limit our potential. These self-imposed ceilings manifest in unexpected ways—not just in career aspirations, but in how we think about work itself. Years before remote work became mainstream, I questioned another artificial boundary: the assumption that effective leadership required a physical office. The answers about where and how we could work seemed predetermined by longstanding corporate norms, until I proved otherwise. Where’s your artificial ceiling? The pattern of self-limitation is pervasive in the business world, especially in how we perceive career progression. I have personally experienced how these artificial barriers affect leaders, restricting our potential for further growth and advancement despite our knowledge of customers, market dynamics, and business strategy. Nevertheless, numerous skilled marketing leaders, including myself until recently, hesitate to pursue a trajectory beyond CMO. This is not due to a lack of capability, but rather because we have internalized certain assumptions about our career path direction and the roles that align with our expertise. The same can be said for other professions. Regardless of your department or title, where do you see yourself “topping out?” What’s the limit? And why is that the limit? Ask yourself those questions. And then make sure the ceiling you envision genuinely where you want your ceiling to be. (Of course, not everyone aspires to be a CEO; I’m talking about aligning your perceived ceiling with your desired ceiling.) Break through the ceiling My own process of breaking through these limitations began with redefining success on my terms. That meant moving beyond traditional career metrics to focus on creating lasting impact. To me, this meant developing the next generation of diverse business professionals, building high-performance teams rooted in different perspectives, and pursuing roles challenging conventional wisdom about career progression. Breaking through artificial ceilings is about more than career paths. It’s about how we work. Long before the recent global shift to remote work, I chose to lead my teams from a distance. This was in an era when many questioned whether remote leadership could truly work. But I’ve built and led high-performing teams across distances for years, proving that physical presence doesn’t define leadership impact. Today, my long-term success as a remote executive serves as evidence that meaningful mentorship, team development, and career growth don’t require shared office space. My professional goals have evolved beyond the CMO role—a goal that once seemed beyond my scope but now forms the core of my professional vision. The interesting thing is that breaking through the limitations was never just about moving up the ladder; it’s more that I realized that the metrics that matter to me, and the impact I want to have are beyond the CMO role. My perceived ceiling now aligns with my desired ceiling. Elevate others along the way The process of dismantling these self-imposed barriers isn’t just personal; it’s about creating ripple effects throughout organizations as well as our families, social circles, communities, and more. In my role mentoring emerging business professionals, I’ve seen how one person breaking through their perceived limitations can inspire others to do the same. (Really!) It’s so much easier to recognize and dismantle artificial ceilings when you’re doing so in an environment that actively encourages it. Again, this doesn’t require physical proximity. When we challenge assumptions about where and how work gets done, we open new possibilities for talent, collaboration, and achievement. My teams have consistently demonstrated that leadership excellence transcends physical location. That’s why, for your sake and for the sake of the people around you, I strongly encourage you to take the lead in creating that environment—wherever you are. Empowering employees to challenge self-imposed boundaries requires intentional action: Actively questioning assumptions about traditional career trajectories Building support systems that encourage ambitious professional moves Developing teams that celebrate diverse perspectives and approaches Combining specialist expertise with broader leadership skills Creating opportunities for others to expand their perceived limitations Can you imagine the collective power of everyone redefining success, questioning assumptions, dismantling boundaries, and striving for their full potential? The potential impact on their individual success and career satisfaction is pretty amazing. Plus, you can combine that with the impact on the overall organization as people become more intentional about excellence and achievement. Even if you’re not in a position to spearhead a cultural change within your own organization, you can still lead by example. Create a new pathway for others to follow. Turn uncertainties into possibilities For those questioning their own artificial ceilings, start by examining your automatic responses to career opportunities. Do you immediately rule out certain roles? Do you assume some positions are out of reach? Challenge these assumptions. Consider whether you’re limiting yourself based on outdated notions of what’s possible. It’s okay to be uncertain; that’s natural when you’re in a new scenario and pushing through barriers. But that means you’re getting somewhere. It means you’re turning uncertainties into possibilities. I started my career stuffing envelopes. To get to the C-suite, there had to be a lot of new scenarios, and a lot of barriers to push through. And I’m still working on it. The key is recognizing these self-imposed barriers for what they are: artificial constructs that can be dismantled with intention and support. The next time you encounter an opportunity that seems just beyond your reach, pause and ask yourself: Is this a real ceiling, or one I’ve built myself? The answer might reveal possibilities you never considered achievable—and the first step toward breaking through to your full potential. Melissa Puls is chief marketing officer and SVP of customer success at Ivanti. View the full article

YouTube now dominates U.S. TV streaming, surpassing mobile, offering marketers new ad formats and longer viewer engagement opportunities. The post YouTube Dominates TV Streaming: New Opportunities For Marketers appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

The big Google review count bug, that we first reported on Friday and that later Google confirmed on Monday afternoon, is now being fixed. We can now see review counts climbing again and many small business owners and local SEOs are reporting improvements.View the full article

The White House’s recent decision to grant press credentials to independent journalists, podcasters, and social media influencers marks a defining moment in the evolution of modern media. It acknowledges a reality that has been unfolding for years: How people consume information has fundamentally changed. For years, traditional media outlets have been the primary gatekeepers of news and information. Today, the landscape is fragmented, dynamic, and decentralized. Millions of people now turn to independent content creators, newsletters, and podcasts—often in place of mainstream news sources. This shift raises essential opportunities and challenges for companies and executives navigating today’s complex media environment. It’s no longer enough to focus solely on securing a headline in The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times. Brands must now consider a broader media strategy that embraces both traditional outlets and the increasingly influential world of digital-first journalism. But with this new ecosystem comes a critical question: What does credibility look like in a fractured media landscape? The new credibility equation For decades, legacy news organizations have been built on a foundation of editorial rigor, fact-checking, and accountability. Their reputations were shaped by rigorous journalistic standards and the trust they cultivated over time. Meanwhile, digital-native journalists and independent voices have built influence through transparency, authenticity, and direct engagement with their audiences. These two worlds—traditional journalism and the creator-driven media ecosystem—are now colliding. The rise of Substack writers with niche but highly engaged followings, YouTubers who command audiences in the millions, and podcasters shaping public discourse means companies must rethink their media approach. This shift makes it more critical than ever to scrutinize who is shaping the narrative and how companies engage with them. The days of assuming that credibility is tied only to newsroom mastheads are over. Today, credibility is about trust—and trust is built differently across different platforms. Traditional media still matters—but it’s not enough Despite the rapid changes in how people consume information, traditional media remains critical—and for good reason. Legacy outlets’ journalistic rigor, editorial accountability, and broad reach continue to make them essential players in shaping public perception. However, traditional media is under immense pressure. Shrinking newsrooms, declining ad revenue, and increased financial strain have led to fewer reporters covering more topics with less time. Many once-dominant outlets have had to pivot toward subscription models or lean into digital strategies just to survive. This means fewer opportunities for companies to secure high-impact, in-depth coverage from traditional newsrooms. In this environment, relying solely on traditional media is no longer viable. Companies must balance traditional earned media with owned content and engagement with non-traditional outlets. Those who do will be in the strongest position to shape and control their narratives. What this means for strategic communications As strategic communicators, our role is not just to secure media coverage—it’s to ensure the right message reaches the right audience through the right medium and with the right voices. This means taking a more nuanced approach in a world where influence is distributed across a diverse range of platforms. Here’s how companies should be thinking about media strategy in this new era: 1. Expand your definition of media The traditional definition of “earned media” has changed. Companies must now balance legacy media’s historical rigor with independent voices’ growing influence. That means evaluating a broader range of outlets, from traditional newspapers to influential newsletters, YouTube channels, and LinkedIn thought leaders. Reaching audiences effectively requires meeting them where they are. For younger generations, that might mean TikTok explainers or long-form podcasts rather than a story in a top-tier news outlet. To reach more specific B2B audiences, it could mean a niche Substack written by an insider rather than a mainstream business publication. Companies that fail to expand their media strategy risk missing out on key audiences who no longer consume information in traditional ways. 2. Prioritize journalistic integrity—vetting matters While the range of credible media voices has expanded, the core principles of credibility remain the same. Companies must vet every media opportunity—whether it’s an interview with a top-tier publication, a widely followed YouTuber, or an independent podcaster. The key questions to ask: What is their reputation for accuracy and fairness? How do they engage with their audience? Do they have a history of sensationalism or misinformation? Credibility should not be sacrificed for reach. While a viral podcast might attract an attractive audience, if it lacks journalistic integrity, the long-term reputational risks outweigh the short-term exposure. 3. Own your narrative through direct storytelling With more voices shaping the public conversation, companies must take greater control of their messaging. That means investing in owned media channels—blogs, newsletters, corporate podcasts, and executive platforms—to provide direct, unfiltered context. A strong owned media strategy allows companies to: Reinforce key messages consistently Provide additional context to paint the whole picture Build direct relationships with key audiences Executives who consistently engage on LinkedIn, for example—sharing insights, reactions to news, and original analysis—are positioning themselves as trusted sources in their industries. In doing so, they’re not just relying on traditional media to tell their story—they’re actively shaping it. The future of media engagement The evolution of media is exciting and complex. In the years ahead, the companies that embrace this shift rather than resist it will shape the narrative. This new landscape offers unprecedented opportunities to connect with audiences more directly and meaningfully. However, it also demands a new level of discernment, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Companies must now balance the credibility and rigor of traditional media with the authenticity and engagement of independent voices while strengthening their channels for direct storytelling. Those who can do this effectively will not only navigate the new media world but also help define it. Tyler Perry is co-CEO of Mission North. View the full article

Higher rates and economic fears persuade retirees to opt for guaranteed incomesView the full article

Cross-party committee warns agency is not ‘sufficiently curious’ about scale of illegal practiceView the full article

Diversity initiatives, often called DEI, are in the political and business crosshairs. In recent weeks, Meta, Walmart, Target, Ford, and McDonald’s are among global companies ending their formal DEI initiatives. Some of the bluster is performative. And yet, for many employees and global firms, there’s a sense that this is an opportunity to rebalance the goals and rethink the strategy by innovating diversity practices to better meet the global business goals. Most DEI programs were crafted years ago, and their relevance and impact has been diminishing. Many initiatives overreached and have not adequately evolved to meet the changing environment. Like with any business process, companies need to innovate their approach to global diversity initiatives. There’s no doubt international companies recognize the value of having varied perspectives, experiences, and skills in all areas of their business. The global firms we work with know that having different voices and perspectives is essential to enhancing how teams function. It improves processes, productivity, and innovation. Companies are able to better understand their global customers’ needs and expectations, ultimately leading to increased profitability. The focus is then on how to ensure that there are diverse perspectives at every stage of a business process. Diversity is defined different ways A core element of our work focuses on applying social sciences, including cultural anthropology, to understand how local factors impact how companies achieve their business objectives. This is distinctly different from diversity initiatives, which are more focused on getting everyone to follow one standardized playbook for engagement, not necessarily prioritizing business goals. In the DEI playbook, there is only one accepted definition of diversity, when in reality diversity’s definition differs across cultures. In the U.S., U.K., and Canada, for example, there’s a tendency to focus on visible characteristics given the countries’ multicultural demographics. American companies have tried to export this version of DEI, but it does not work in every culture. The way American firms approach diversity has been stuck at the visible characteristics phase. In other countries, invisible characteristics like region, rural/urban setting, income, education, religion, tribe, caste, etc. can be more relevant, impacting how people communicate, interact, operate, and manage. It’s essential to recognize that people who look different can actually think alike. And people who look alike can think differently. We already know that having people of different socioeconomic backgrounds provides more varied perspectives that can impact business objectives and innovation. For example, diversity of educational backgrounds means that companies are increasingly recognizing that they need to recruit from a wider range of colleges and universities around the world. Rethink diversity It’s time to innovate by rethinking and expanding how we talk about diversity, making sure that it’s globally relevant for all stakeholders. And in this current environment, we have a unique opportunity to innovate diversity initiatives to meet the evolving needs of employees and customers worldwide. To be effective, it’s essential to integrate cultural nuances and localize any global strategies, including diversity initiatives, to achieve business objectives. There are key points to keep in mind as global firms integrate varied perspectives, voices, and roles into their business operations and processes. First, the current DEI concept is heavily influenced by American perspectives and values and it may not translate to local cultures. Focusing on shared values and business objectives, our cultural framework uses a methodology integrating social sciences and business. Companies should focus on how to improve their stakeholder engagement—with employees, customers, and partners—to achieve business goals. Diversity as the end goal is insufficient. It has to integrate into how people communicate, interact, and manage. Integrating cultural frameworks helps focus companies on making sure their teams work more effectively across cultures to better achieve business goals. For example, global hospitality and travel firms we work with recognize that global customer engagement teams with varied experiences result in better overall customer experience and satisfaction metrics, including higher NPS (Net Promoter Score) and improved profitability. What are the company’s goals, and how can everyone collectively work together toward those goals? Starting with that premise enables teams to focus on how to communicate and interact more effectively across cultures, engaging local teams to better understand the opportunities and challenges for getting all team members involved. Share perspectives Second, ensure that everyone throughout your organization can provide their perspective wherever relevant and useful. Ensure that virtual and in-person teams are cognizant of local cultural communications patterns so all ideas and perspectives are shared. For example, our cultural framework integrates a number of cultural factors to compare and contrast cultures. Individualistic versus collective. It’s not surprising that on a comparative basis, the U.S. is the most individualistic culture in the world. American business metrics tend to reward and advocate for the individual. In contrast, Asian, Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American cultures value group goals and teamwork more. So, any diversity and business initiative that focuses on the individual ahead of the group may not work locally. It’s more valued to be respectful of the group dynamics. For example, throughout Asia, the focus is on the collective good. Highlighting individual differences—visible or invisible—is considered a negative. People from diverse backgrounds and cultures communicate differently. A fundamental concept is verbal and nonverbal communications (high-low context). People who expect direct communications and clear verbal directness—e.g., in the U.S.—will miss nonverbal cues from colleagues who are accustomed to reading the context, such as in East Asia. Add in hierarchical cultural value, where junior team members are less likely to speak up in the presence of respected senior team members. Other factors can complicate communications and team dynamics including invisible characteristics such as local income, education, caste, tribe, etc. These are simple examples of invisible characteristics, but they illustrate that companies need to be clear about diversity goal efforts. Diversity for the sake of diversity may not be as successful across cultures, but diversity as a way to achieve shared corporate values and goals is more likely to resonate. When developing a diversity program, be careful not to tell people how to be diverse but rather provide a conversation forum. We need to innovate how we view diversity, integrate invisible characteristics across cultures, and focus on shared purpose and business goals. In the long run, our goal should be to infuse diversity in every business process and team rather than a separate business unit. It will become ubiquitous. Sanjyot P. Dunung is founder and CEO of Atma Global. View the full article

The cost of Valentine’s Day may be a lot higher this year compared to last year. You’ve probably heard the price of eggs has skyrocketed, but if you haven’t already started shopping for your Valentine, be prepared for some sticker shock, especially for perennial favorites like roses and chocolates. Here’s why. How much will I pay for roses this year? Depending on where you live, you might be paying a hefty price. This Valentine’s Day, the average price for a dozen long-stemmed roses (red or white) is a staggering $90.50, 2% more than last year, according to FinanceBuzz as reported by CBS News. Yet a 2% hike would be getting off easy, considering that if you live in Hawaii, you’ll have to shell out $143 for that same dozen, which is 58% more expensive than the national average. Wondering where the best bargain can be found? It’s California, where you’ll pay an average of $68 for a dozen roses, compared to $110 in Texas (where the cost of living is on average much cheaper than in California). Another reason for the hefty price tag on bouquets? Inflation over multiple years. The average price went up from $80.16 in 2023 to $88.61 last year. Here are the states where roses are most expensive these days, rounded to the nearest dollar based on data from FinanceBuzz: Hawaii: $143 per dozen Texas: $110 per dozen Washington: $107 per dozen Montana: $105 per dozen Kentucky: $102 per dozen Wyoming: $102 per dozen Ohio: $102 per dozen South Carolina: $102 per dozen Kansas: $100 per dozen Iowa: $99 per dozen While erratic weather patterns can also play a role in flower production and prices, this year’s prices are mostly a result of, and in line with, inflation, as supplies remain high. In fact, some 940 million cut flower stems have already arrived in the U.S. for the holiday via Miami International Airport, mostly from Colombia and Ecuador, according to ABC News. Around 90% of holiday flowers sold in the U.S. from around the world transit through Miami, with the other 10% transiting through Los Angeles before they are distributed to stores around the country, according to ABC. What about chocolate prices? Alas, sweets for your sweet will cost you more this year, too. With the price of cocoa more than double what it was at the start of 2024, expect to pay 10% to 20% more for a box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day, according to a Wells Fargo analyst, as reported by CNN. The reason? Like eggs, cocoa production has been hit with supply chain issues stemming from COVID-19, inflation, and the weather. In West Africa, which produces 70% of the globe’s cocoa supply, extreme weather events, including El Niño, have raised temperatures in the region, created both drought conditions and flooding that led to fungus on the crops. As a result, growers have been producing fewer crops, which means fewer cocoa beans. At the time of this writing (midday on Tuesday), cocoa was trading at $10,103.13 per metric ton, up 72% in the first few months of 2025, but still down from its December high. View the full article

Chancellor’s headroom against her key budget rule has been wiped out, according to preliminary forecasts by watchdogView the full article

Plaintiffs alleging the lender manipulated home valuations ten years prior argued the interpretation of the rule cited in determining the case's standing was a stretch. View the full article

Wireless earbuds are great, but they can be pretty same-y from one brand to the next. Most adopt the classic AirPods design language—small buds, usually with some sort of stem, all of which travel in a charging case. Each has its own list of pros and cons, of course, but the product category has certainly homogenized. The newly announced Powerbeats Pro 2 seem a bit different, though. Of course, these new buds do all the things you'd expect from a pair of $250 headphones: They have active noise cancelling and transparency mode—the latter of which pumps in sounds from the world around you so you can hear what's going on with your earbuds in. They're IPX4 sweat- and water-resistant, and have a respectable 45-hour battery life when you consider the extra boost from the charging case. But they look different than other earbuds, thanks to the buds' "earhooks." (I'd argue the Electric Orange color also helps in this department.) If you find that traditional wireless earbuds tend to fall out of your ears, the hooks in the Powerbeats Pro 2 (carried over from the original Powerbeats Pro) might offer some extra support. But, then again, if you're used to the feeling of traditional earbuds, the extra pressure from the earhook could be different. I'd recommend trying both types of earbuds on if you're unsure. But, either way, the visual differences definitely make the Powerbeats Pro 2 stand out. Powerbeats Pro 2 can track your heart rateWhat caught my attention, however, was the built-in heart rate monitor. These sensors sit on the side of each earbud and track your heart rate through your ear. It's like having a little Apple Watch in each of your ears—which is a little weird, but also really cool. They're not the first earbuds to do this: As CNET's David Carnoy pointed out, Sennheiser's Momentum Sport Earbuds came with similar sensors. Those heart rate monitors were fairly accurate in Carnoy's experience, as are the ones on the Powerbeats Pro 2. Beats says that the heart rate monitors in its new buds work across a number of platforms, including Apple, Android, and other Bluetooth-enabled fitness equipment. However, it's worth noting that if you use the Powerbeats Pro 2 with an Apple Watch, the Health app on your iPhone will pull from the watch rather than your earbuds. You'll have to take off your Apple Watch or disable the heart tracker on the watch if you want to rely on the heart rate monitors on your Powerbeats. If you don't like the earhooks on the Powerbeats Pro 2, or you're just a dedicated AirPods fan, don't worry: This tech is coming to Apple's flagship earbuds as well—just not immediately. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, these new AirPods are "still many months away," so the Powerbeats Pro 2 will remain the only Apple-produced earbud with heart rate tracking for a bit longer. Other Powerbeats Pro 2 perksWhile Powerbeats work with many platforms, they're definitely designed for Apple's own ecosystem. If you have other Apple devices, your Powerbeats will switch between each device as you play an audio source, just like other Apple earbuds. There's also Personalized Spatial Audio, audio sharing (RIP headphone splitters), and hands-free Siri, if you like to ping the assistant while wearing your earbuds. The buds also have physical playback controls through the "b" button on each bud, as well as volume rockers on both. As someone who still uses a first-gen pair of AirPods Pro, physical controls embedded onto the buds is very tempting. In Carnoy's review for CNET, he found the Powerbeats Pro 2 to be quite similar to the AirPods Pro 2 in audio quality and noise cancellation performance, although he thought the AirPods had a more consistent performance overall. The Powerbeats Pro 2 are missing some AirPods Pro 2 features, such as Adaptive Audio, which automatically blocks out noises over a certain decibel, or Conversation Awareness, which lowers the volume when it detects you're talking to someone. View the full article

In the Northern Hemisphere, February is the middle of winter. According to NASA, this is why Native American tribes named this month’s full moon the Snow Moon. Historically, the shortest month of the year was also the coldest because of the heavy snowfall that occurred. Another name for this lunar display of grandeur is the Hunger Moon. That name also makes historical sense because of how the snowiest month made hunting and gathering more difficult. If you didn’t plan ahead properly, your stomach was bound to rumble. Let’s take a deeper look at the winter of it all, and when to best peep up at the night sky for optimal full moon viewing. When exactly is the middle of winter? Many people believe that Groundhog Day marks the middle of winter. It’s a close approximation, but not always 100% accurate. If you want to get technical, according to the Farmer’s Almanac, the middle of winter varies from year to year. Groundhog Day always falls on February 2, and this year, the following day was actually the halfway mark between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Winter takes the prize for both the coldest and shortest season of the year. It lasts 88.99 days on average. Its brevity is due to perihelion, the point in the Earth’s orbit that it is closest to the sun. The cold is caused by Earth’s axial tilt, or obliquity. In the Northern Hemisphere, from December to February, the earth is tilted away from the sun, which means less direct sunshine and chillier days. The tilt overrides the nearness of the sun. What’s a groundhog got to do with it? Groundhog Day was created by German-speaking immigrants in the United States, who became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch because of a misinterpretation of the word “Deutsch.” It was based on the Christian tradition of Candlemas, a feast celebrating the day that Jesus was presented at Temple by Joseph and Mary. The early Christian church incorporated pagan traditions into its calendar. For Candlemas, one of these was weather-predicting folklore. In Germany, a bear or badger was used, but in the United States, groundhogs took center stage. The best known groundhog these days is Punxsutawney Phil, who calls Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania home. This year, he predicted six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow. How to see the full snow moon In parts of the country, such as the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, snow storms may prevent one from catching the snow moon. Talk about irony. The rest of the country will also experience cloudy skies amid potential rainstorms. If you want to try your luck, according to EarthSky, the full moon will reach peak illumination on Wednesday morning (February 12) at 8:53 a.m. ET. The celestial orb will also appear full Thursday and Friday. View the full article