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

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

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

In this economy, job seekers face a tough market, despite strong job growth. Some apply for more than a hundred jobs before landing one. Many are looking for any edge they can get—to secure a coveted interview, and eventually, land a position they’re excited about. In his book, Sell Yourself Like a CEO, headhunter Ryan Sheppard provides valuable guidelines for anyone wanting to advance in their career. Sheppard, who works closely with CEOs, argues that top leaders have skills that anyone in the job market would do well to emulate. Here are five ways to sell yourself like a successful CEO would: 1. DEVELOP A CEO MINDSET A strong CEO is able to convey their vision—and the mission of the company— clearly to stakeholders. “I have always been impressed with what CEOs bring to their role,” says Sheppard. “They present a powerful vision and demonstrate leadership.” Sheppard encourages readers to think like a CEO by taking ownership of their careers, and bring to each interview a vision and sense of direction. They should manage their career and resources the way a CEO would direct a company. 2. COMMUNICATE WITH CLARITY If you want to impress the hiring manager, you’ll need to communicate with clarity. Sheppard encourages job seekers to “boil their goals down to one sentence.” For example you might choose something like this: “I see myself leading a technology company through a major transformation, from a volume-based to a value-based firm.” (For further insight into how to develop that one sentence message, see my book, The Job Seeker’s Script.) Clarity in presenting your goals also involves the ability to see into the future. Sheppard says for job candidates clarity means “knowing what you see yourself doing; where you want to be in 5 years; and what’s important to you as you look ahead.” 3. SHOW CONFIDENCE Third, it’s important to show confidence in your job search. Some candidates are hesitant to say what they’ve contributed. In praising their team, they may fail to show how they added value. While you shouldn’t appear egotistical or arrogant, emphasize your strong leadership and accomplishments. If you want to project the confidence of a successful CEO, Sheppard recommends that you go into the interview with a “confidence inventory.” “Write down situations in which you faced—and overcame—challenges,” he says. Memorize these talking points and bring them forward in the interview. Selling yourself is about presenting the leadership you have shown in your career. Have the confidence to act as if you are the leader whom the company is hiring for. 4. PROJECT CHARISMA It is also important to project charisma—another key attribute for successful CEOs and those in the job market. Top leaders know what charisma is. A misconception is that charisma is self-centered and that it reflects a big ego. On the contrary, Sheppard says charismatic individuals make others feel great. Sheppard advises that you strive to “be interested, not interesting.” He says that successful CEOs are focused on others, not themselves. He advises successful job seekers to “know the power of asking great questions, being curious, taking a genuine interest in the interviewers. You might say “Tell me about the growth plans of the company.” “What are the key challenges the company faces?” “How will you and I collaborate?” “What challenges should I expect in this role?” All these questions show your unselfish interest in the company and they will allow you to project true charisma. 5. DEMONSTRATE YOUR NEGOTIATION SKILLS The final step of the process involves demonstrating top notch negotiating skills. Have the courage to ask for what you feel you are worth. “Negotiating with a future boss can be very intimidating,” Sheppard acknowledges.” When a future boss asks ‘what is your salary expectation?’ the candidate has often not thought it through.” So Sheppard advises that you “come prepared to name a figure or a range. Before the interview, add up the components of your present salary package.” The total might include your base, bonus, and benefits. “Then negotiate a percentage increase, say 8-10% more than your present package gives you.” says Sheppard. “That is rarely done. Candidates will often say ‘I’m hoping for such and such an amount.’ The essence of negotiation is to be clear about what you want. Whatever number you ask for, ask with conviction.” View the full article

Effective Comparison Pages: 6 Steps for Better Conversion Rates View the full article

A review of the Japanese KiHa 183 series train that operates between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. In 2024 the Royal Railway of Cambodia acquired 11 KiHa 183 series train carriages from JR Hokkaido in Japan. The trains were converted from 1067mm gauge to metre gauge, and a test service began on the Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville route in November 2024. This retired train from snowy Hokkaido now has a new life in tropical Cambodia. I rode the service from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville in December 2024, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable train trips I’ve taken in Southeast Asia. Here is what to expect. Southern Line Phnom Penh – Sihanoukville Depart Phnom Penh: 7:00 am Arrive Sihanoukville: 12:40 pm Travel time: 5 h 40 m The main stops are: Phnom Penh Takeo Kep Kampot Sihanoukville The official booking site is at https://royalrailway.easybook.com. I use Baolau to buy Cambodia train tickets. Tickets are also available at the station. [Phnom Penh Station ticket counter.] Phnom Penh Station Phnom Penh Station is one of my favourite stations in Southeast Asia. The station is in a good location near the city centre, which is how it should be for the main stations for capital cities. There is a cafe in the station (Coffee Hub Royal Railway) which is advertised as opening at 6:30. The station building wasn’t open when I arrived, so passenger entry to the platforms was via the side of the building. There is a cafe and snack stand in an old train carriage next to the side exit. This was the only place open in the morning. There were also some food vendors selling pre-made meals (pork and egg with rice). There are only two train services per day from Phnom Penh, and they bother depart in the morning. [Battambang and Sihanoukville trains at Phnom Penh.] There is no assigned seating, so arrive early if you want to pick a preferred seat. I arrived at 6:30 so I could get photos of the train, though I discoved there were plenty of seats available on this day. [KiHa train at Phnom Penh Station.] Onboard the KiHa train to Sihanoukville Economy class seats are in 2×2 configuration. Having individual seats is a big improvement from the old trains with bench seats. The seats are generously padded, and I would say they are one of the most comfortable trains seats in Southeast Asia (I would put it in the top 3 with Whoosh and the Laos-China Railway). In addition to the comfortable seats, there is enough legroom to stretch out and not feel guilty about fully reclining your seat. The seats have backseat trays and there are power outlets. There was no food or drink service when I went (I bought the coffee at Phnom Penh Station). The carriages are air-conditoned, so but not set to freezing like some other railway in Southeast Asia do. There was another economy section with red seats. The Business Class seats are arranged in 2×1 configuration. The toilets are what you would expect from a Japanese train. The Japanese labels are still on the toilet instructions. There is also an external wash basin area. The trains can reportedly travel at up to 110 km/h, but they are still limited by the tracks they run on. The Southern Line is mostly a single track, so it still has to stop at passing loops to let other trains pass. Sihanoukville is the main shipping port of Cambodia, so container trains heading to Phnom Penh also use this line. The scenery gets more scenic in Kampot province. For many passengers, Kampot is the main destination. Overall this was an easy train trip, despite the slow train speed and stoppage to let a freight train pass. I have done this trip before on the old trains, and having a comfortable seat with ample legroom in an air-conditioned carriage makes a world of difference. The only downside was there was no food or drink service of any kind. Remember to bring your own drinks and snacks. The train arrived at Sihanoukville at 1:36 pm (56 minutes behind schedule). Delays are to be expected on this service, so don’t book any time-sensitive onward connections if you are using the train. [Kiha train at Sihanoukville.] Sihanoukville or Kampot? There is not much to do in Sihanoukville now that it has been turned into a casino wasteland, so this service is most useful for onward travel to Koh Rong. The downside to this is that the train takes longer than a bus to Sihanoukville, so it is a late arrival to Koh Rong. A better itinerary is to get off at Kampot, which gives you a long enough experience on the train while being a nicer city to stay in. This train travel review is part of the Southeast Asia railways guide. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I balance work and socializing at hybrid team meetings? I (a young-looking woman) lead a team of about 15, composed of 3-4 smaller sub-teams that collaborate on various parts of the project. About half the team work remotely; a quarter at Site A, including my deputy and me; and a quarter at Site B. Team members range from junior to mid-career, heavy on junior. We have at least one meeting per project topic area per week for tracking progress and working through more complex issues together. I have a hard time closing down the first “social” 5-15 minutes of a meeting; the chit chat expands and we run out of time for our actual agenda items. Our remote staff are particularly social. I like them and would enjoy our chats, but my social battery gets (happily) drained by interacting with in-person colleagues (both on and off this project) and an active social life and hobbies. With people at my site, I’m able to chat organically in the hall or while walking to meetings, make it a coffee break, etc. I do not have time nor energy for more than ~20 minutes of Zoom call social chatting per typical day, but that’s gotta split across the 2-5 calls per day. But I want all my staff to feel connected and happy at work! I’m also a people pleaser and a little socially anxious. How soon into a meeting can and should I redirect to the agenda? How can I do this without making people think I’m an emotionless computer, or get out of my head where I’m terrified of that outcome? Several times in the past when I’ve tried removing the “smiles and exclamation marks” veneer, others coworkers who I previously had positive work relationships with reacted defensively as if I were attacking them or their work. In every instance, other colleagues present verified for me afterwards that my content and tone were appropriate and accurate. So I’m particularly sensitive that I might come across as a robot or a jerk, create unpleasantly chilly relationships, or lose my staff to other projects (they can switch projects as they want). 15 minutes of chat at the start of a meeting is a lot. Five minutes is reasonable, particularly if you have a lot of remote team members who don’t have many other opportunities for that sort of social connection with each other. But it is very reasonable — and very normal — to interject after five minutes (really, three to five) and say, “Well, let’s get started so we can get through all our agenda items.” If you make a point of warmly joining in on the chatting before that, you will be much less likely to come across as chilly when you do call the meeting to order. When you’re leading a remote team, it’s reasonable to see those five minutes as part of the work you invest in your team culture and connections. But it’s really okay to move things along after that. And I would bet good money that some of your team members will appreciate you doing it, and are aggravated by how much meeting time is being spent on non-work stuff … doubly so if you’re not getting through your agenda. You can also occasionally try moving the chat to the end of the meetings! You can say, “I want to jump into our agenda so we don’t run out of time, but if we have time at the end, anyone who wants to is welcome to stay on to continue this part of the conversation.” And then at the end, you can say, “I need to jump off and I think some others may too, but anyone who wants to stay on, please feel free!” That said, I think you’ll see less of it then — since by the end of a meeting most people are ready to be done — but you could at least make it clear it’s an option for people who want it. 2. My job offer was rescinded after a reference check After a great interview last week, I accepted a job offer at a hospital. Yesterday, the offer was abruptly rescinded. HR personnel and the hiring manager will not give details, but they stated that it was solely due to “unsatisfactory references.” This is a shock to me because these references are supervisors and colleagues who I have good or great relationships with. I had confirmed with all of these individuals beforehand if they would be willing to offer a recommendation, and they had enthusiastically agreed. When I explained to these colleagues why the offer was rescinded, they were stunned. The third party recruiter, my references, and I are still convinced this is a mistake, that they must have their applicants mixed up somehow. So far, HR and the hiring manager insist there is no mistake. My recruiter told me, “I have been doing this for 15 years and I’ve never seen this. I’m at a loss.” Have you encountered this before? Could the offer have been rescinded for another reason? Do I have any recourse here? It’s possible that it was a mistake. It’s also possible that your references did give you good reviews but said something in passing that concerned the hiring manager. For example, most reference checks ask about weaknesses, and it’s possible a reference named something that they thought was minor but it happened to be something would cause a problem in this particular job or is a particular bugaboo of the manager’s. It’s also possible the hiring manager simply misunderstood something. (For thoroughness, I’ll also note that when done well, reference checks aren’t supposed to be a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down but more nuanced — although when they’re done post-offer, they are nearly always closer to a rubber stamp, so that’s less likely to be in play.) You don’t really have any legal recourse here; employers are allowed to rescind job offers, especially when they’re contingent on things like post-offer reference checks (which are generally a terrible practice). But the recruiter is in a better position to push for more information and to push them to check that a mistake wasn’t made. Since she’s at a loss too, can you ask her to try that? 3. Discussing gun ownership with coworkers I have a perhaps odd question about professional boundaries. I am a petite woman who lives alone. I somehow send out creepy people homing vibes and have had one or two frightening moments where I could have gotten hurt. (I know someone is going to tell me to read Gift of Fear. I already have, and I am working on becoming less of a target, but we all know sometimes creeps just gonna creep.) I would like to purchase a gun that I would keep in my home for self-defense. I would of course secure it, practice regularly, and take all other actions I can to make sure I’m never in a situation where I’d need it. I live in a state where gun laws are very strict. To buy a gun, I must first find two state residents who will testify to my good character. This has been a challenge as most people here oppose or at least are suspicious of gun ownership. I think they’d endorse my character generally but would not want to assist me in buying a gun by writing that down. I have two coworkers who have mentioned in passing that they themselves own guns. The work we do together is in a physically hazardous environment, so these two coworkers have seen how I deal with safety issues, which I hope would speak well to my ability to be a responsible gun owner. They’ve also watched me interact interpersonally and can testify I’m reasonable. Would it be unprofessional of me to contact them outside of work channels and ask if they would be willing to serve as a reference in this way? Both are senior to me, so I don’t think they could worry that I would penalize them if they said no. It just feels weird and possibly intrusive to discuss such a controversial issue with a professional contact. Would it make a difference if one person had left the company? I want to say up-front that my answer to this might be influenced by my own discomfort with guns, but this makes me nervous. On one hand, these are people who are clearly comfortable with gun ownership themselves and it might be completely fine! On the other hand, if they don’t feel comfortable saying yes, you’d be putting them in a pretty uncomfortable position (where they’d need to essentially tell a colleague, “No, I don’t endorse your character”), and I don’t love that. If you wanted to feel them out, one option is to approach them for advice about the process generally, since it’s something they’ve already mentioned. Explain you’re considering buying one, don’t know anyone outside of work with first-hand experience with the process, and enter the conversation that way. It’s possible that will create an opening to bring it up organically. Otherwise though, I’d err on the side of caution and keep it out of work. 4. Phone interviews when you’re hard of hearing My husband is hard of hearing, especially on the phone. He has had a couple interviews that he tanked because he misheard a question or kept asking them to repeat the question. He doesn’t have hearing aids, but I think he needs them. I keep encouraging him to get tested. He mishears me all the time or doesn’t hear me at all if one of us is facing away while talking. There are a couple things he says helps, like wearing headphones for a call, using a desk phone rather than a cell, or taking a call in his car with the Bluetooth speakers. Three times now, interviewers have unexpectedly called him outside their scheduled interview times where he isn’t able to get into his car or find headphones quickly. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so he tried talking on his cell phone. He couldn’t hear most of what was said. He got feedback on how poorly he did, like his answers had nothing to do with the questions or that he didn’t know the answers because he repeatedly asked interviewers to repeat their questions. I advised him to tell the interviewers he can’t take the call at the moment but is happy to keep their scheduled time or reschedule so he can get to a place he can hear, or just be up-front that he is hard of hearing and request some accommodations like a Zoom call where multiple interviewers and my husband can use headsets. My husband doesn’t want to because he’s in his 50s and he’s afraid of looking old or incapable, like he can’t do a phone call or meeting. I pointed out people of any age can have hearing issues, and it’s got to be better than them thinking he doesn’t know anything. I have more experience interviewing and I’ve never had interviewers call outside scheduled times “because everyone was in the office” just then. What is the best way to handle this? Tell them he can’t talk? Ask them to hold until he can get into his car? Ask them to call our landline? Any of these? I’d like to say his worry about ageism is wrong but we’re both getting to an age now where I do see some of that in the workplace. Ideally he’d just ask to reschedule for a more convenient time, but I can understand why he’s hesitant to; while it’s a perfectly reasonable request, sometimes the rescheduled call will never end up happening. Given that, the next best option is to say, “Can you give me a minute while I get to a quieter place to talk?” so he has time to find headphones or go to his car. (It also sounds worth keeping headphones easily accessible in the places where he spends the most time during the workday.) It’s also fine to say, “I seem to have a bad connection — could you call me right back on my land line?” You’re also absolutely right that he could simply ask for accommodations (which they’re required by law to provide), but he’s not wrong about the risk of discrimination — both age and disability discrimination. But one of the other suggestions should get these calls back on track. Related: what’s up with surprise phone interviews? 5. Can my boss require me to use a vacation day on my last day of work? I am leaving a job I love at the end of the month due to a health issue. I have a great relationship with my boss and my coworkers, and the job has been a really great fit, so I’m really sad that I need to leave. My boss, her boss, and another admin person are all scheduled to be off on the last day of the month. There are exit procedures that need to be done on my last day, so my boss asked if I would take vacation on that day so we could do them the day before. I’d rather work that day and cash out as much vacation as possible, so I’m basically being asked to forfeit a day’s pay. Can my boss ask me to do this? Yes. They can also set your last day for an earlier date if they want to, which would be functionally the same thing (which doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, just that they could). But if you explain you’d prefer not to, it’s possible they’ll work with you on a different arrangement. You could try saying, “Would it be possible for us to do the exit procedures on the 30th and then I’ll spend the 31st finishing up X and Y? I’m hoping not to use up any vacation time before I leave.” They might say no — and they might not be able to say yes, if you won’t be able to work once the exit procedures are done — but it’s reasonable to ask. View the full article

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How do I balance work and socializing at hybrid team meetings? I (a young-looking woman) lead a team of about 15, composed of 3-4 smaller sub-teams that collaborate on various parts of the project. About half the team work remotely; a quarter at Site A, including my deputy and me; and a quarter at Site B. Team members range from junior to mid-career, heavy on junior. We have at least one meeting per project topic area per week for tracking progress and working through more complex issues together. I have a hard time closing down the first “social” 5-15 minutes of a meeting; the chit chat expands and we run out of time for our actual agenda items. Our remote staff are particularly social. I like them and would enjoy our chats, but my social battery gets (happily) drained by interacting with in-person colleagues (both on and off this project) and an active social life and hobbies. With people at my site, I’m able to chat organically in the hall or while walking to meetings, make it a coffee break, etc. I do not have time nor energy for more than ~20 minutes of Zoom call social chatting per typical day, but that’s gotta split across the 2-5 calls per day. But I want all my staff to feel connected and happy at work! I’m also a people pleaser and a little socially anxious. How soon into a meeting can and should I redirect to the agenda? How can I do this without making people think I’m an emotionless computer, or get out of my head where I’m terrified of that outcome? Several times in the past when I’ve tried removing the “smiles and exclamation marks” veneer, others coworkers who I previously had positive work relationships with reacted defensively as if I were attacking them or their work. In every instance, other colleagues present verified for me afterwards that my content and tone were appropriate and accurate. So I’m particularly sensitive that I might come across as a robot or a jerk, create unpleasantly chilly relationships, or lose my staff to other projects (they can switch projects as they want). 15 minutes of chat at the start of a meeting is a lot. Five minutes is reasonable, particularly if you have a lot of remote team members who don’t have many other opportunities for that sort of social connection with each other. But it is very reasonable — and very normal — to interject after five minutes (really, three to five) and say, “Well, let’s get started so we can get through all our agenda items.” If you make a point of warmly joining in on the chatting before that, you will be much less likely to come across as chilly when you do call the meeting to order. When you’re leading a remote team, it’s reasonable to see those five minutes as part of the work you invest in your team culture and connections. But it’s really okay to move things along after that. And I would bet good money that some of your team members will appreciate you doing it, and are aggravated by how much meeting time is being spent on non-work stuff … doubly so if you’re not getting through your agenda. You can also occasionally try moving the chat to the end of the meetings! You can say, “I want to jump into our agenda so we don’t run out of time, but if we have time at the end, anyone who wants to is welcome to stay on to continue this part of the conversation.” And then at the end, you can say, “I need to jump off and I think some others may too, but anyone who wants to stay on, please feel free!” That said, I think you’ll see less of it then — since by the end of a meeting most people are ready to be done — but you could at least make it clear it’s an option for people who want it. 2. My job offer was rescinded after a reference check After a great interview last week, I accepted a job offer at a hospital. Yesterday, the offer was abruptly rescinded. HR personnel and the hiring manager will not give details, but they stated that it was solely due to “unsatisfactory references.” This is a shock to me because these references are supervisors and colleagues who I have good or great relationships with. I had confirmed with all of these individuals beforehand if they would be willing to offer a recommendation, and they had enthusiastically agreed. When I explained to these colleagues why the offer was rescinded, they were stunned. The third party recruiter, my references, and I are still convinced this is a mistake, that they must have their applicants mixed up somehow. So far, HR and the hiring manager insist there is no mistake. My recruiter told me, “I have been doing this for 15 years and I’ve never seen this. I’m at a loss.” Have you encountered this before? Could the offer have been rescinded for another reason? Do I have any recourse here? It’s possible that it was a mistake. It’s also possible that your references did give you good reviews but said something in passing that concerned the hiring manager. For example, most reference checks ask about weaknesses, and it’s possible a reference named something that they thought was minor but it happened to be something would cause a problem in this particular job or is a particular bugaboo of the manager’s. It’s also possible the hiring manager simply misunderstood something. (For thoroughness, I’ll also note that when done well, reference checks aren’t supposed to be a simple thumbs-up/thumbs-down but more nuanced — although when they’re done post-offer, they are nearly always closer to a rubber stamp, so that’s less likely to be in play.) You don’t really have any legal recourse here; employers are allowed to rescind job offers, especially when they’re contingent on things like post-offer reference checks (which are generally a terrible practice). But the recruiter is in a better position to push for more information and to push them to check that a mistake wasn’t made. Since she’s at a loss too, can you ask her to try that? 3. Discussing gun ownership with coworkers I have a perhaps odd question about professional boundaries. I am a petite woman who lives alone. I somehow send out creepy people homing vibes and have had one or two frightening moments where I could have gotten hurt. (I know someone is going to tell me to read Gift of Fear. I already have, and I am working on becoming less of a target, but we all know sometimes creeps just gonna creep.) I would like to purchase a gun that I would keep in my home for self-defense. I would of course secure it, practice regularly, and take all other actions I can to make sure I’m never in a situation where I’d need it. I live in a state where gun laws are very strict. To buy a gun, I must first find two state residents who will testify to my good character. This has been a challenge as most people here oppose or at least are suspicious of gun ownership. I think they’d endorse my character generally but would not want to assist me in buying a gun by writing that down. I have two coworkers who have mentioned in passing that they themselves own guns. The work we do together is in a physically hazardous environment, so these two coworkers have seen how I deal with safety issues, which I hope would speak well to my ability to be a responsible gun owner. They’ve also watched me interact interpersonally and can testify I’m reasonable. Would it be unprofessional of me to contact them outside of work channels and ask if they would be willing to serve as a reference in this way? Both are senior to me, so I don’t think they could worry that I would penalize them if they said no. It just feels weird and possibly intrusive to discuss such a controversial issue with a professional contact. Would it make a difference if one person had left the company? I want to say up-front that my answer to this might be influenced by my own discomfort with guns, but this makes me nervous. On one hand, these are people who are clearly comfortable with gun ownership themselves and it might be completely fine! On the other hand, if they don’t feel comfortable saying yes, you’d be putting them in a pretty uncomfortable position (where they’d need to essentially tell a colleague, “No, I don’t endorse your character”), and I don’t love that. If you wanted to feel them out, one option is to approach them for advice about the process generally, since it’s something they’ve already mentioned. Explain you’re considering buying one, don’t know anyone outside of work with first-hand experience with the process, and enter the conversation that way. It’s possible that will create an opening to bring it up organically. Otherwise though, I’d err on the side of caution and keep it out of work. 4. Phone interviews when you’re hard of hearing My husband is hard of hearing, especially on the phone. He has had a couple interviews that he tanked because he misheard a question or kept asking them to repeat the question. He doesn’t have hearing aids, but I think he needs them. I keep encouraging him to get tested. He mishears me all the time or doesn’t hear me at all if one of us is facing away while talking. There are a couple things he says helps, like wearing headphones for a call, using a desk phone rather than a cell, or taking a call in his car with the Bluetooth speakers. Three times now, interviewers have unexpectedly called him outside their scheduled interview times where he isn’t able to get into his car or find headphones quickly. He didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so he tried talking on his cell phone. He couldn’t hear most of what was said. He got feedback on how poorly he did, like his answers had nothing to do with the questions or that he didn’t know the answers because he repeatedly asked interviewers to repeat their questions. I advised him to tell the interviewers he can’t take the call at the moment but is happy to keep their scheduled time or reschedule so he can get to a place he can hear, or just be up-front that he is hard of hearing and request some accommodations like a Zoom call where multiple interviewers and my husband can use headsets. My husband doesn’t want to because he’s in his 50s and he’s afraid of looking old or incapable, like he can’t do a phone call or meeting. I pointed out people of any age can have hearing issues, and it’s got to be better than them thinking he doesn’t know anything. I have more experience interviewing and I’ve never had interviewers call outside scheduled times “because everyone was in the office” just then. What is the best way to handle this? Tell them he can’t talk? Ask them to hold until he can get into his car? Ask them to call our landline? Any of these? I’d like to say his worry about ageism is wrong but we’re both getting to an age now where I do see some of that in the workplace. Ideally he’d just ask to reschedule for a more convenient time, but I can understand why he’s hesitant to; while it’s a perfectly reasonable request, sometimes the rescheduled call will never end up happening. Given that, the next best option is to say, “Can you give me a minute while I get to a quieter place to talk?” so he has time to find headphones or go to his car. (It also sounds worth keeping headphones easily accessible in the places where he spends the most time during the workday.) It’s also fine to say, “I seem to have a bad connection — could you call me right back on my land line?” You’re also absolutely right that he could simply ask for accommodations (which they’re required by law to provide), but he’s not wrong about the risk of discrimination — both age and disability discrimination. But one of the other suggestions should get these calls back on track. Related: what’s up with surprise phone interviews? 5. Can my boss require me to use a vacation day on my last day of work? I am leaving a job I love at the end of the month due to a health issue. I have a great relationship with my boss and my coworkers, and the job has been a really great fit, so I’m really sad that I need to leave. My boss, her boss, and another admin person are all scheduled to be off on the last day of the month. There are exit procedures that need to be done on my last day, so my boss asked if I would take vacation on that day so we could do them the day before. I’d rather work that day and cash out as much vacation as possible, so I’m basically being asked to forfeit a day’s pay. Can my boss ask me to do this? Yes. They can also set your last day for an earlier date if they want to, which would be functionally the same thing (which doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, just that they could). But if you explain you’d prefer not to, it’s possible they’ll work with you on a different arrangement. You could try saying, “Would it be possible for us to do the exit procedures on the 30th and then I’ll spend the 31st finishing up X and Y? I’m hoping not to use up any vacation time before I leave.” They might say no — and they might not be able to say yes, if you won’t be able to work once the exit procedures are done — but it’s reasonable to ask. View the full article

FedEx Corporation has released its second annual FedEx Returns Survey, conducted in partnership with Morning Consult, revealing key trends in consumer and business attitudes toward e-commerce returns. The findings emphasize the growing demand for flexible and convenient return options, driven by generational and income-based preferences. The survey highlights significant differences in return preferences across generations and income levels. Higher-income earners (66%) and baby boomers (59%) prefer returning items in-store, while 20% of Gen Z and millennials favor home pickup options. Additionally, 19% of millennials choose to use mailbox drop-offs for their returns. These insights underscore the importance of innovative return solutions that cater to diverse consumer needs. “Consumers are making it clear that flexibility and convenience are essential when it comes to returns,” said Jason Brenner, senior vice president, digital portfolio at FedEx. “The continued rise in no-label, no-box returns and growing demand for home pickup options reinforce the need for retailers to offer solutions that make returns more seamless for consumers.” Opinions on the ease of returns are divided. While 51% of consumers believe the return process has improved, 32% remain neutral, and 17% feel it has become more difficult. Optimism is highest among millennials (56%) and higher-income consumers (58%). However, skepticism persists among Gen X (21%), Gen Z (18%), and lower-income respondents (18%), signaling an opportunity for retailers to enhance and better communicate their return policies. Return policies are a critical factor for consumers, influencing shopping behavior and loyalty. Two-thirds of respondents consider return policies before making a purchase, with nearly 30% stating that these policies directly affect their decision to complete a transaction. Transparent and flexible return options have become essential for retailers looking to build trust and drive sales. The FedEx Returns Survey was conducted by Morning Consult between December 14 and December 20, 2024. The consumer survey included 2,200 U.S. respondents, with a margin of error of ±2%. A separate survey of 1,000 U.S. business shippers was conducted during the same period, with a margin of error of ±3%. Image: Envato This article, "FedEx Survey Highlights Evolving Consumer Expectations for E-Commerce Returns" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Google's AI overviews appear in 30% of searches and nearly three-quarters of problem-solving queries, according to a new study. The post Google AI Overviews Found In 74% Of Problem-Solving Queries appeared first on Search Engine Journal. View the full article

Rural residents face unique challenges and barriers when it comes to accessing high-quality healthcare. Many rural areas do not have a hospital or medical center nearby, forcing residents to drive hours to the nearest doctor or healthcare clinic. This delays—and in some cases prevents—rural residents from receiving care quickly, efficiently and safely. Due in part to these barriers, rural patients take advantage of preventive care less often than their urban counterparts and face higher health risks, such as cancer, chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, stroke, and unintentional injuries. Women, specifically mothers, are among those most significantly impacted in these rural communities. In fact, less than half of rural women live within a 30-minute drive to the nearest hospital offering perinatal services. According to the March of Dimes, 36% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts—meaning there are no hospitals providing obstetric care, no birth centers, no OB/GYNs, and no certified nurse midwives. Of those counties, about 62% are considered rural. On top of that, maternal and infant mortality rates in the most remote areas of the country are significantly higher than those in large metropolitan areas, and rural hospitals report higher rates of postpartum hemorrhage and blood transfusions during labor and delivery, compared to their urban counterparts. As a woman and a mother, these numbers are deeply troubling to me. But they should be equally concerning to all Americans. The first step: Expand the healthcare workforce Addressing healthcare workforce shortages nationwide is the first step to tackling these health disparities. Everyone knows we need more healthcare providers. But the numbers are daunting. If everyone—including the marginalized, rural, and uninsured—had the same access to healthcare as those with fewer barriers, the U.S. would have needed 202,800 additional physicians as of 2021. That’s in addition to the number we need to replace the providers who leave the workforce every day due to burnout and stress. This is no easy feat, but it can be done. It starts with expanding access to healthcare education and training healthcare professionals at scale. To do this, we need to be creative in how we think about traditional education in this country. To attract a diverse population of students, we need to truly understand the barriers some populations face when pursuing an education. Whether financial, academic, or logistical, we need to find ways to systemically dismantle those barriers and design educational programs that meet students’ real-world needs. This can include simplified admissions processes, online coursework options, enhanced scholarship opportunities, ongoing support programs, and innovative technologies that foster student-faculty engagement and educational success. We also must ensure that we adequately prepare students—both academically and practically—for career success, supplementing classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Partnerships with hospitals and health centers can provide students with educational experiences that mimic the clinical setting and provide a realistic understanding of the skills they will need for their chosen specialty area. These are critical steps to expanding educational opportunities for more students interested in the healthcare profession. As these graduates go on to serve patients, many of them returning to practice in their own communities, we unleash a robust and much-needed healthcare workforce that serves critical primary care needs and underserved populations across the U.S. When these graduates have received the educational support and the real-world training they need to be successful, they are ready on day one to meet their patients’ unique healthcare needs. This benefits mothers in rural areas—as well as fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, and entire communities. A ZIP code should never serve as a barrier to accessing critical healthcare services. Those living in rural communities face unique health care challenges, and women, including pregnant women, are among the most significantly impacted. We need to expand the pipeline of diverse healthcare professionals and equip them with high-quality, specialized training to serve these communities. By doing so, we can dismantle barriers to care and help meet the unique health needs of rural patients. Blake Simpson is chief communications and corporate affairs officer of Adtalem Global Education. View the full article

Launched 16 years ago with only 500 apps, Apple’s App Store revolutionized how we interact with our devices. As of 2023, the App Store had nearly 1.8 million apps, spanning categories like gaming, fitness, productivity, social media, and much more. The phrase “There’s an app for that” has never been more true. But with so many apps available, users face a new challenge: app fatigue. With millions of choices, users can easily become overwhelmed. Even when someone chooses to download an app, they can be bombarded with notifications urging them to engage, upgrade, or subscribe. With many apps competing for users’ attention and wallets, this can push them to ignore or even delete an app altogether. This creates a dilemma but also presents a unique opportunity for developers. By rethinking app monetization and adopting innovative models, the industry can evolve into a healthier, more rewarding space for users and developers alike. Developers can lead the charge here while still prioritizing app quality, accessibility, and user satisfaction. The impact of app fatigue The App Store growth has created a paradox of choice for users. Users now have an average of 18 apps downloaded on their smartphones, and this number is predicted to decrease by 1% each year. Meanwhile, churn rates—the percentage of users who stop using an app—have skyrocketed over the past four years, with 96.3% of iOS app downloaders becoming inactive by day 30. This environment leaves developers scrambling to compete. Because users have millions of apps to pick from, very few apps actually turn a profit. This pressure has led many developers to adopt aggressive monetization strategies like subscription models, prioritizing short-term revenue over user experience. Subscription models can be useful tools when used thoughtfully, providing a steady source of revenue that allows developers to maintain and improve their apps. The issue arises when subscriptions become the default or sole app monetization model, which is occurring more frequently. When useful functionality is hidden behind paywalls and payment options for apps are limited to recurring charges, users can become frustrated with their app experience. This can alienate users and lead to higher churn rates, creating a cycle where neither users nor developers truly benefit. Explore user-centric alternatives With the surge in app numbers and the widespread adoption of subscription models, it’s no surprise that many users feel overwhelmed. However, alternative strategies can mitigate app fatigue, offering a better user experience and sustainable options for developers. “Pay-per-use,” where users only pay when engaging with specific features, has become common in sectors like ride-sharing, food delivery, and online education. This model eliminates the need for ongoing subscriptions and gives users the ability to pay solely for the features they use. Ultimately, this eliminates the pressure of recurring charges. Additionally, “all-you-can-eat” models give users the freedom to use many features for a single price, providing a streamlined user experience and eliminating the need for constant upgrades and hidden fees. This makes app usage more enjoyable for users. For developers, it ensures a steady revenue stream that is distributed fairly—incentivizing quality and innovation. Yet, while these models offer exciting alternatives to traditional subscription models, they can only succeed if apps themselves evolve. Monetization is just one piece of the puzzle; the design and ecosystems behind these apps must also be reimagined. A new era of software The app industry must move behind incremental fixes. Users need tools that help them create, innovate, and build a meaningful legacy for a reasonable and fair price. Platforms like the Apple Arcade hint at what’s possible by offering an integrated, curated marketplace with a streamlined user experience and efficient “all-you-can-eat” format. Similarly, the rise of “super-apps” in markets like Asia highlights another approach: consolidating multiple services—such as messaging, payments, and e-commerce—into a single platform to reduce friction and simplify daily life. These examples illustrate the growing expectation for apps to deliver cohesive solutions that adapt to users’ needs, whether through curated marketplaces, multifunctional platforms, or interconnected standalone tools. It’s becoming clear that single-purpose apps are quickly becoming obsolete. The future belongs to apps that are proactive, not reactive—dynamic tools that evolve with users’ needs, offering a holistic, personalized experience. Developers must create on-demand solutions that instantly adapt to fulfill user needs. If a user, for instance, wants to combine notes, set reminders, and draft a report, the app should seamlessly generate the tools or interface in real time, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps or perform repetitive tasks. The tools to make this happen are already here; technologies such as generative AI will lay the groundwork for even more advanced app solutions in the future. As the industry looks ahead, the key to success lies in seeing the bigger picture: smarter, more integrated solutions for users and robust ecosystems that empower developers. By rethinking how dynamic app services are designed and how they interact within larger platforms, we can move toward a future where software adapts to users—not the other way around. Oleksandr Kosovan is founder and CEO of MacPaw. View the full article

Recently, Donald Trump was once again inaugurated as President of the United States, and the start of what I anticipate will be a pivotal year for our nation. And while it’s increasingly difficult to know exactly what to expect, there is one thing I believe has become incredibly clear over the past year: The most important issues facing our country won’t be solved with more incessant bickering and polarization. I don’t come to this conclusion out of some perceived sense of moral superiority. I, too, have found myself taken in and even angered by recent political dramas. The fact is that division can be intoxicating, particularly when it relates to issues that we’re passionate about. However, passion alone won’t help our struggling neighbors, and remaining divided will only prevent holistic solutions to fixing inequality and uplifting those in our communities who need it most. Understand the issues at hand For decades, socioeconomic inequality has continued to impact tens of millions of Americans and has remained one of our country’s most difficult challenges. And make no mistake, this is an issue that impacts people on all points of the political spectrum, and that will need to be addressed with increasing urgency regardless of which party is in power. According to the Federal Reserve, the wealth gap in this country continues to widen. Within the second quarter of 2024, the top 10% of households by wealth had an average of $6.9 million each, holding 67% of total household wealth. Meanwhile, the bottom 50% of households by wealth had an average of $51,000, only holding 2.5% of total household wealth. In parallel, housing affordability in this country is also getting worse, with the National Low Income Housing Coalition estimating a current shortage of more than 7 million affordable homes for the nearly 11 million extremely low-income families in the U.S. Given these statistics, it should come as no surprise that the incumbent Democratic administration ended up losing the working class vote. Whether you blame that on post-pandemic inflation or weak policies around workforce development, it doesn’t change the fact that the overall economy was a major motivating factor for American voters and instrumental in ushering in a leadership change. Change isn’t achieved through division To say that Donald Trump has traditionally been a polarizing figure would be an understatement. For years, his spontaneity on social media alone has reliably drawn the criticism of politicians and business leaders of all political affiliations, and on occasion even resulted in Trump being banned from multiple platforms. However, judging by a slew of public endorsements and financial contributions from prominent tech leaders, it appears that at least one industry is willing to put their differences aside in the name of progress. More specifically, we’ve learned of several hefty contributions to Trump’s inaugural fund. Influential leaders like Mark Zuckerberg are signaling a growing recognition that remaining divided is a poor strategy for driving change. While there are many conclusions that can be taken from this development, I think the most important lesson here is that real progress requires having allies in political leadership, not adversaries. We’ve seen how these prominent leaders can drive social and economic change in the U.S., including but not limited to tech, innovation, philanthropy, and more. So when it comes to addressing inequalities, I believe these are the leaders who will catalyze real change and we need them in our corner. Come together to drive progress As a career entrepreneur and nonprofit philanthropist, I’ve been privileged to witness first-hand how providing a hand up to our neighbors can uplift an entire community, which we do at Business for Good each day. But I’ve also come to understand that positive change is much more readily achieved through unification rather than division. In fact, after years of working with hardworking business owners from marginalized communities, I can say with confidence that most care far less about political divisiveness than they do about action and results. Additionally, and perhaps more than anything, what these communities want—and need—is simply for their voices to be heard. We can see this truth clearly reflected in how certain demographic groups voted this election, particularly young, working-class Black and Latino men. Citing everything from the benefits of Trump’s tax policies for small businesses to the inability of Democrats to truly deliver on their promises to minority communities, both demographics went for Trump even more confidently than in 2020, with Trump earning close to double the share of votes from Black men under 45 than he did in the previous election. So, as we look to move forward to the next phase of Business for Good, the focus will remain on addressing inequities, but on a bigger scale—honing in on the housing crisis, economic equality, and broader community development. With Inauguration Day in the rear-view mirror—and most leaders would probably agree—I don’t believe that this second Trump term will be all forward progress; there are still a lot of unanswered questions and uncertainty about the actions he will take over the next four years. What I do think, however, is that solving the socioeconomic challenges of our time isn’t about being a Democrat or a Republican, but rather about working across party lines with the shared recognition that unification is needed now more than ever to drive meaningful change, and that the path toward a better future for all Americans will be far better undivided. Ed Mitzen is cofounder of Business for Good. View the full article

Apple Intelligence brought with it some of the most hyped new features for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac when it released with iOS 18.1. Even now, its functions are being upgraded and currently include writing assistance, an enhanced form of Siri, and AI image generation. Capabilities are limited to the iPhone 15 Pro series, all iPhone 16 models, all iPads running an A17 Pro chip and above, and all Macs with an M-series chip, but that's still a lot of options. However, not everyone's happy with it. That's because Apple recently made the decision to turn Apple Intelligence on by default for all compatible devices. Even though the new features are exciting, not everyone wants to use artificial intelligence features on their smartphones or other devices, especially now that they take up 7GB of storage space and involve sending data to Apple's cloud. If you're among those who are skeptical, it's good news that you can turn off Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or other compatible Apple device. Alternatively, if you do want to use Apple's AI, it's easy to turn it back on. How to enable Apple Intelligence on iPhone or iPad Credit: Khamosh Pathak If you have an Apple Intelligence compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the easiest way to turn Apple Intelligence on is to upgrade to iOS 18.3/iPadOS 18.3/macOS 15.3 or later. This will automatically enable Apple Intelligence on your device. Alternatively, navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and flick the toggle to turn it on manually. If enabling manually, you should see instructions to finalize your Apple Intelligence access on-screen. Just follow the outlined workflow and it'll be enabled for you. If updating didn't turn on Apple Intelligence for you or you're still not seeing an option to enable Apple Intelligence, ensure that your device language and Siri language are set to one of the supported variations of English, as Apple Intelligence is only available in that language for now. Find device language in Settings under Language & Region in the General tab and Siri language under the Siri tab in the same app. If you still don't see the Apple Intelligence toggle, it might not be available in your region. How to turn on Apple Intelligence's ChatGPT extensionWhile on the Apple Intelligence & Siri page, scrolling down will also show an option for setting up ChatGPT integration, which is not enabled by default and will allow Siri to pass on difficult questions to ChatGPT, plus will give Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools the ability to compose text rather than just rewrite it. Under Extensions, tap ChatGPT, then on the new page, hit Set Up... to get started. A ChatGPT account is optional for this feature, and Apple promises to obscure your Apple Account and IP address before passing on data to OpenAI, as well as keep OpenAI from training on your information. Note that enabling ChatGPT integration requires agreeing to OpenAI's Terms of Use. How to turn off Apple Intelligence on iPhone or iPad Credit: Khamosh Pathak Using AI raises many concerns, such as high energy usage, privacy issues, or even simply the potential for unreliability that often comes with a new, immature technology. If you decide that you'd rather not use Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can easily disable it. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle off Apple Intelligence. You'll see a confirmation pop-up—select Turn Off Apple Intelligence. That will remove the AI from your device, including any ChatGPT integration you might have also enabled. View the full article

Recently, Chinese startup DeepSeek created state-of-the art AI models using far less computing power and capital than anyone thought possible. It then showed its work in published research papers and by allowing its models to explain the reasoning process that led to this answer or that. It also scored at or near the top in a range of benchmark tests, besting OpenAI models in several skill areas. The surprising work seems to have let some of the air out of the AI industry’s main assumption—that the best way to make models smarter is by giving them more computing power, so that the AI lab with the most Nvidia chips will have the best models and shortest route to artificial general intelligence (AGI—which refers to AI that’s better than humans at most tasks). No wonder some Nvidia investors are questioning their faith in the unlimited demand for the most powerful AI chips in the future. And no wonder some in AI circles are questioning the world view and business strategy of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the biggest evangelist for the “brute force” approach to ever-smarter models. “The assumption behind all this investment is theoretical . . . the so-called scaling laws where when you double compute, the quality of your models increases in kind of the same way—it’s kind of a new Moore’s Law,” says Abhishek Nagaraj, a professor at the University of California–Berkeley’s Haas business school. (Moore’s Law said that software developers could expect microchips to become predictably more powerful as chipmakers packed more transistors into their microchips.) “And so if that holds, it effectively means that whoever controls the infrastructure will control a lot of the market,” adds Nagaraj. That’s why companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and X are building data centers as fast as they can. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman last year said he needs to raise $7 trillion to build the data centers needed to reach AGI. OpenAI, Microsoft, Softbank, and Oracle said recently they’ll spend up to $500 billion over the next five years to build new data centers for AI in Texas. Attracting the money to do that, however, is something only “closed-source” companies like OpenAI can do, Nagaraj points out. OpenAI’s private equity backers (such as Andreessen Horowitz) and big tech backers (such as Microsoft) are willing to bankroll the AI infrastructure (chips, software, data centers, electricity), which OpenAI says it needs, if it keeps the recipes of its models secret. That’s the “moat” around their investment, after all. Establishing such a moat was the main reason OpenAI stopped being an “open” AI company back in 2019. DeepSeek shares the weights of its models (the mathematical calculations at each connection point in their neural networks) and allows any developer to build with them. After essentially giving away its research and eschewing a moat, DeepSeek was never going to attract the private equity funding needed to bankroll hundreds of thousands of Nvidia chips. Adding to its challenge were the U.S. chip bans that reserved the most powerful AI chips for U.S. companies. So DeepSeek found ways to build state-of-the-art models using far less computing power. In doing so, it appears to have collapsed Altman’s assumption that massive computing power is the only route to AGI. Not everybody thinks so, of course. Particularly in OpenAI circles. “I would never bet against compute as the upper bound for achievable intelligence in the long run,” says Andrej Karpathy, one of the original founders of OpenAI, in an X post. “Not just for an individual final training run, but also for the entire innovation/experimentation engine that silently underlies all the algorithmic innovations.” Altman, too, seemed undeterred. “We will obviously deliver much better models and also it’s legit invigorating to have a new competitor! We will pull up some releases . . . ,” he posted breezily on X. “But mostly we are excited to continue to execute on our research roadmap and believe more compute is more important now than ever before to succeed at our mission.” OpenAI’s “mission” is AGI. Lots of powerful chips will be needed, if only because the general demand for AI services is going to grow exponentially. More data centers will be needed just to respond to calls from millions of AI-infused apps built on OpenAI APIs, he added. Some have suggested that DeepSeek’s discovery of ways to build more compute-efficient advanced AI models could reduce the barrier to entry and allow far more developers to build such models of their own, therefore pushing up demand for AI chips. For example, DeepSeek’s most recent model, DeepSeek-R1, provided the open-source world with a reasoning model that appears to be comparable to OpenAI’s state-of-the-art o1 series, which applies more computing power at inference time, when the model is reasoning through various routes to a good answer. In a statement Monday, Nvidia gives DeepSeek props for creating reasoning models using “widely available” Nvidia GPUs, and adds that such models require “significant numbers” of the GPUs as well as fast chip-to-chip networking technology. The latest DeepSeek models have only been available to developers for a short time. Just like when Meta introduced its open-source Llama models, it will take some time to understand the real economics of building new models and apps based on the DeepSeek models. It’s possible that more widely distributing the ability to build cutting edge models could put more brains to work on finding novel routes to AGI and, later, superintelligence. That’s the good news. The bad news may be that powerful models, and the means to build them, will become more available to people who might use them maliciously, or who may not be fastidious about using accepted safety guardrails. But DeepSeek is not perfect. The DeepSeek chatbot has in anecdotal cases emphatically misidentified itself as the creation of OpenAI or Microsoft. Nor can the chatbot speak freely on all subjects. “Like all Chinese AI companies, DeepSeek operates within the People’s Republic of China’s regulatory framework, which includes restrictions on how language models handle politically sensitive topics,” says David Bader, a professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. “These constraints are evident in how their models respond to queries about historical events and government policies.” If you ask the chatbot about the Tiananmen Square protests, for example, it responds with, “Let’s talk about something else.” View the full article

The Empire State Building is nobody’s idea of a hidden gem. The 1,472-foot Art Deco landmark of stone and steel dominates the streetscape and world view of New York City—and all of pop culture. From King Kong’s battle with biplanes to the annual ESB Run-Up to its iconic 86th Floor Observatory, the “World’s Most Famous Building” is both myth and monolith. This alone could not have explained what happened last June, though: The Empire State Building Observatory Experience was ranked the No. 1 attraction in the world in Tripadvisor’s 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. At 93 years young, the skyscraper became ostensibly the top attraction on the planet. This was not the work of an algorithm, or even Swiftonomics (though Taylor did once pay a visit). Rather, the ranking took root in a multiphase, design-led transformation of the Observatory Experience, fueled by the recognition that spaces and places must evolve to meet people’s shifting relationships across physical, digital, and immersive realms. This might seem like an isolated success, with few applicable lessons beyond the museums and attractions sector. But since we and our creative partners at Journey, Thinc Design, and Beneville Studios completed the $165 million reimagination of the Observatory Experience, we have come to appreciate lessons that any brand, in any sector, can adopt to deepen connections with their customers. Here are four that (wait for it) rise to the top. 1. REANIMATE YOUR STORY As we began our building-wide modernization work in 2008, we thought creatively beyond the building itself—more specifically, the international brand and relevance of the concept of the Empire State Building. We could have hung archival photos or played King Kong on a loop in our galleries. Instead, we chose to immerse visitors in the lore and complexity of this singular structure. Key moments from its construction, its place in popular culture, and its industry-leading deep energy retrofit became onramps to immersive storytelling. Rather than watch two-dimensional, black-and-white footage of Kong 102 stories above the city streets, we welcome visitors to climb into his fist as he zooms in close, nostrils flared. Visitors don’t pore over lengthy exhibit descriptions; they peer inside coin-operated-style viewfinders and observe vendors hawking five-cent apples and traffic officers directing streetcars that trundle through the frame. Banks, retailers, museums, healthcare clinics—they all contain powerful stories that, through smart, tactical applications of design and technology, could forge stronger connections to the people they serve. 2. GET MULTIDIMENSIONAL How many times must we read about the blurring lines between physical and digital? Our collaboration spun off a more instructive idea: Rather than blur lines, build linkages. The physical and digital components of the reimagined Observatory Experience address every dimension of human interaction. Those viewfinders set this principle to motion. Peering through them, visitors become participants in a nearly century-old scene that slipped the bounds of time. That sensation is far more powerful than any discreet piece of hardware or software. Brands should take a cue and combine their digital and physical assets in ways that create transformative new experiences. Fifth Avenue is hardly a galaxy far, far away. That didn’t stop a Star Wars villains-inspired experience from taking over the Empire State Building last year. Fittingly, The Empire Strikes Back played on the 80th floor while life-size LEGO statues of Darth Vader and Darth Maul beckoned selfie-takers. An unoccupied space at the base of the building housed a fully immersive Hasbro takeover that thrilled die-hard fans. Through it all, host and guests derived value—and had a blast. When an IP as exhaustively excavated as Star Wars can build new linkages across the fan experience by showing up in unexpected ways (and places), it is a clear sign that most brands can, and should, as well. 3. DON’T BREAK NEW GROUND We began with an assessment of underutilized sectors on our second and 80th floors; the queue areas for Observatory-bound elevators; and even the elevators themselves. Here, for the better part of a century, lay the seeds of a completely reimagined visitor experience—a sort of prequel to the views on the 86th and 102nd floors. Developers might derisively call this “creative reuse,” but as we recontextualized these assets, we did more than fill space; we opened new portals of experience and immersion. How many department stores have elevators or escalators? Through the creative application of technology and design, these can become dynamic, immersive vessels for brand storytelling and wayfinding that produce tighter bonds between store and customer. No elevators or escalators? Convert underutilized space into zones of experimentation that help dimensionalize the experience. 4. TAKE THE LONG VIEW A funny thing happens nowadays when visitors finally reach the Observatory floors. Spectacular views used to be the main course, but since we inaugurated the new visitor experience, they feel like the cherry on top. Despite the still-breathtaking sightlines, you know where many of our visitors now tag their Instagram snaps? With Kong, 84 floors below, as well as with statues of brave men who built the building in the immersive exhibit dedicated to their work. Talk about your internal pivots. Perhaps this is the most powerful lesson of all: A brand never has to “top out.” If we redefined how people experience 365,000 tons of stone, glass, and steel, imagine what you can do for your brand. Andrew Zimmerman is CEO and a cofounder of Journey. Anthony E. Malkin is chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. You know what’s nice about social media? It takes the guesswork out of gift-giving. Ahead of Valentine’s Day, you can glance over your partner’s shoulder to see what kinds of products the algorithms are serving them ads for, watch influencers demonstrate the trendiest items, or just search for what’s hot. Here’s what to get your lover for Valentine’s Day, based on what's going viral. #1: Personalized jewelryThe first thing I've been getting a lot of videos about lately is personalized jewelry. Granted, a lot of these videos are coming from manufacturers or boutiques themselves, but I'm only seeing them because they're getting enough positive feedback to go viral, landing them on my FYP. Generally speaking, heart-shaped jewelry is a no-no and expensive jewelry can be dicy depending on the stage your relationship is at, but personalized jewelry is always a winner. It's more sentimental and meaningful—but it doesn't actually have to be super spendy. An engraved sterling silver bracelet can be as low as around $14 on Amazon and can feature a name, a special date, geographical coordinates, or something special to you and your person. Two years ago, my boyfriend got me this initial necklace from Tiffany ($210) and I haven't taken it off. You can also create a custom combination using Kendra Scott's Color Bar, which is especially popular among college-aged and younger people, but works for anyone. (This is what I got as my birthday present last week, for instance.) #2: Permanent jewelryAnother idea that is popping up all over—but is a little serious—is permanent jewelry. These are typically small bracelets that are welded onto the wearer (so, like, easy enough to snap if you really had to, but let's hope you never do). On social media, couples post about going to get them together, though I caution you should both do it or else it's a little weird and possessive, in my opinion. It used to be that "permanent jewelry" meant spending thousands on some Cartier, but these days, it can be as low as a few hundred, depending on where you live. Shops offering the service have popped up all over the country, so Google your city name and "permanent jewelry," but only if you think your partner will really like it. Alternatively, you can buy DIY kits that come with two bracelets and everything you need to attach them for around $50. FabuLove Permanent Bracelet Kit $49.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $55.00 Save $5.05 Shop Now Shop Now $49.95 at Amazon /images/amazon-prime.svg $55.00 Save $5.05 #3: A mini fridgeThis was big last year but is still big this year, too. (I just added one to my cart after months of pressure from my algorithm.) Mini fridges are popular for storing drinks, yes, but also for keeping skincare items chilled, so whether your sweetie likes to crack open a cold one or apply 11 layers of goop to their face (or both at the same time), there are a few avenues to success here. A classic Insignia mini fridge in black ($99.99, Best Buy) The Iceblue skincare fridge with a lighted mirror on the front ($39.99, Amazon) #4: Stanley tumblers (and other, non-Stanley tumblers)Stanley tumblers (and their various competitors) have remained popular for years now and are an appropriate gift for any holiday. People love these things, so it's a slam-dunk as far as gifts are concerned. Put flowers or smaller presents inside to seal the deal and aim to pick up the Valentine's-themed Stanley ($45) for style points, since that one is trending. #5: Customized anythingReturning to my original point, custom gifts are always best, especially on more romantic holidays. Spend some time on TikTok or Reels and you'll see customizable goods from air fresheners to pajamas. A few ideas: A blanket with a photo on it ($18.99) An illuminated photo plaque ($12.99) A t-shirt with photos arranged to look like band merch, which is very popular ($12.99) Gift selection ideas courtesy of social mediaThese are a few things that are popular on the app right now, sure, but everyone is unique so you can't just order up a little fridge for your sweetie if it's not something they actually want. If you're OK with a little light cyber-stalking (and you're sure that the person you're buying for wouldn't be creeped out), try going to their Instagram and hitting their "following tab." You'll see not only the accounts they follow, which can point you toward hyper-curated interests and the hashtags they track. Look through the accounts and hashtags, where videos and posts they've liked will populate automatically for you (because the algorithm is sick). If you see, "Liked by [their username]" under a post, that can give you a good idea of what they really like but maybe haven't thought to ask for. Again, proceed with caution: If the person you're buying a gift for might find that technique invasive—such as someone you just started dating—don't use it! But if you're really struggling with gift ideas and you know the person well enough, give it a shot. View the full article

On Jan. 29, Asian American communities around the U.S. will ring in the Year of the Snake with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated. In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. What is the Lunar New Year? The Lunar New Year — known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea — is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. In Taiwan, this year, people have been drawn to the White Snake Temple to pay their respects. In Indonesia, it is celebrated with dragon puppets and drum displays. It is also widely observed by diaspora communities around the world. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of time. Legend has it that a god beckoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from Earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honoring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox. What does the Year of the Snake mean? Snakes are viewed with both fear and reverence in Chinese culture. On the one hand, venomous snakes are associated with darkness. But in Chinese mythology, snakes are also known as “little dragons,” and the skin they shed is known as “the dragon’s coat,” symbolizing good luck, rebirth and regeneration. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness. In Chinese culture, they are grouped with the turtle and crane as a symbol of longevity. This year, merchants in China and elsewhere are producing lanterns, soft toys and other products where the snakes have googly eyes and goofy smiles so they appear cute and cuddly, and don’t scare away young celebrants. What are some beliefs and traditions around the Lunar New Year? One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. Because the beast feared the color red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster. To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the color symbolizes good fortune and joy. People dress in red attire, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give loved ones and friends money for the new year. Gambling and playing traditional games is common during this time across cultures. Ancestor worship is also common. Many Korean families participate in a ritual called “charye,” where female family members prepare food and males serve it to ancestors. The final step of the ceremony, called “eumbok,” involves the entire family partaking the food and seeking blessings from their ancestors for the coming year. Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on a home altar as a mark of respect to their ancestors. Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexico’s Purepecha Indigenous group. How do diaspora communities celebrate? Members of Asian American communities around the U.S. also organize parades, carnivals and festivities around the Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food and cultural performances. In addition to cleaning their homes, many buy new things for their home such as furniture and decorate using orchids and other brightly colored flowers. Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the U.S. as well as other churches. What are some special foods for the new year? Each culture has its own list of special foods during the new year, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats. In the Chinese culture, for example, “changshou mian” or “long-life noodles” are consumed with a wish for a long, healthy and happy life. In Vietnamese culture, banh chung and banh tet — traditional dishes made from glutinous rice — are a must. To make a banh tet, banana leaves are lined with rice, soft mung beans and pork belly and rolled into a tight log, which is then wrapped in the leaves and tied up with strings. Koreans celebrate with tteokguk, a brothy soup that contains thinly sliced rice cakes. Warm bowls of snake soup are also on the menu in some Hong Kong snake shops, as the Lunar New Year approaches. —Deepa Bharath, Associated Press Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. View the full article

Apple Intelligence had a slow rollout, launching with a waitlist and only recently allowing access to AI images and its emoji generator. But following yesterday's release of iOS 18.3/iPadOS 18.3/MacOS 15.3, it seems Apple is finally ready to follow Microsoft and Google’s leads and start putting its AI features front-and-center. According to the update's release notes, Apple Intelligence has gone from an opt-in feature to an opt-out one. In other words, if you have an AI-compatible iPhone (meaning the iPhone 15 Pro and above) or iPad (meaning it has an A17 chip or above), Apple Intelligence will be toggled on by default as soon as you upgrade. As seen in a separate post here, that also extends to AI-compatible Macs, or any Mac running an M1 chip or above. Here’s Apple explaining it in the company’s own words: For users new or upgrading to iOS 18.3, Apple Intelligence will be enabled automatically during iPhone onboarding. Users will have access to Apple Intelligence features after setting up their devices. To disable Apple Intelligence, users will need to navigate to the Apple Intelligence & Siri Settings pane and turn off the Apple Intelligence toggle. This will disable Apple Intelligence features on their device. It’s a major last-minute change to what was a fairly boring update during its betas—although unlike Google’s plan to eventually replace Google Assistant with Gemini, at least Apple still gives you the option to opt out. That tracks with Apple’s other big change for the patch, which sees the company rolling back some of the features associated with Apple Intelligence’s AI-generated notification summaries. Apple Intelligence isn’t without its perks, although for me, the biggest difference I’ve seen since enabling it is that Siri’s UI looks a little different. It’s still got more features on the way, including the ability for Siri to natively pull context from your screen and your messages, so it’ll presumably get better, but it’s understandable if you’d rather hold off for now. Especially given that it now takes up a whole 7GB of storage space. How to opt out of Apple Intelligence in iOS 18.3To ensure you’ve got Apple Intelligence disabled, keep an eye on your device's screen. If summoning Siri turns on a purple border all around your display, you’ve been opted into AI. To opt out of Apple Intelligence and go back to the standard, AI-less experience, navigate to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and flip off the Apple Intelligence toggle at the top of the page. View the full article

Chinese tech startup DeepSeek ’s new artificial intelligence chatbot has sparked discussions about the competition between China and the U.S. in AI development, with many users flocking to test the rival of OpenAI‘s ChatGPT. DeepSeek’s AI assistant was the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apple’s iPhone store on Tuesday afternoon and its launch made Wall Street tech superstars’ stocks tumble. Observers are eager to see whether the Chinese company has matched America’s leading AI companies at a fraction of the cost. The chatbot’s ultimate impact on the AI industry is still unclear, but it appears to censor answers on sensitive Chinese topics, a practice commonly seen on China’s internet. In 2023, China issued regulations requiring companies to conduct a security review and obtain approvals before their products can be publicly launched. Here are some answers The Associated Press received from DeepSeek’s new chatbot and ChatGPT: What does Winnie the Pooh mean in China? For many Chinese, the Winnie the Pooh character is a playful taunt of President Xi Jinping. Chinese censors in the past briefly banned social media searches for the bear in mainland China. ChatGPT got that idea right. It said Winnie the Pooh had become a symbol of political satire and resistance, often used to mock or criticize Xi. It explained that internet users compared Xi to the bear because of perceived similarities in their physical appearance. DeepSeek’s chatbot said the bear is a beloved cartoon character that is adored by countless children and families in China, symbolizing joy and friendship. Then, abruptly, it said the Chinese government is “dedicated to providing a wholesome cyberspace for its citizens.” It added that all online content is managed under Chinese laws and socialist core values, with the aim of protecting national security and social stability. Who is the current US president? It might be easy for many people to answer, but both AI chatbots mistakenly said Joe Biden, whose term ended last week, because they said their data was last updated in October 2023. But they both tried to be responsible by reminding users to verify with updated sources. What happened during the military crackdown in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in June 1989? The 1989 crackdown saw government troops open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths. The event remains a taboo subject in mainland China. DeepSeek’s chatbot answered, “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else.” But ChatGPT gave a detailed answer on what it called “one of the most significant and tragic events” in modern Chinese history. The chatbot talked about the background of the massive protests, the estimated casualties and their legacy. What is the state of US-China relations? DeepSeek’s chatbot’s answer echoed China’s official statements, saying the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is one of the most important bilateral relationships globally. It said China is committed to developing ties with the U.S. based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. “We hope that the United States will work with China to meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and push forward the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations,” it said. Some of these phrases — “meet … halfway,” “mutual respect” and “win-win cooperation” — mirror language used by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official in a 2021 news conference. ChatGPT’s answer was more nuanced. It said the state of the U.S.-China relationship is complex, characterized by a mix of economic interdependence, geopolitical rivalry and collaboration on global issues. It highlighted key topics including the two countries’ tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan, their technological competition and more. “The relationship between the U.S. and China remains tense but crucial,” part of its answer said. Is Taiwan part of China? Again — like the Chinese official narrative — DeepSeek’s chatbot said Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times. An example of a very similar statement is found in this government document issued in 2022. “Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood, jointly committed to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” the chatbot said. ChatGPT said the answer depends on one’s perspective, while laying out China and Taiwan’s positions and the views of the international community. It said from a legal and political standpoint, China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and the island democracy operates as a “de facto independent country” with its own government, economy and military. —Kanis Leung, Associated Press Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu contributed to this story. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Apple has been top dog in the premium tablet space for years, and the iPad Pro with an M4 chip released last year is no exception. If you've been waiting for a discount on the best-performing tablet you can get, consider the 11-inch M4 iPad Pro for $849.99 (originally $999.99) after the additional $50 discount at checkout. This brings it down to the lowest price the this iPad model has been since its release, according to price-tracking tools. Apple iPad Pro 11-Inch (M4) Ultra Retina XDR Display, 256GB, 12MP Front/Back Camera, LiDAR Scanner, Wi-Fi 6E, Face ID. $849.99 at Amazon $999.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Get Deal $849.99 at Amazon $999.99 Save $150.00 The M4 is about 1.5 times faster than the M2, the chip used in the previous generation of iPads. That's a big difference for anyone looking to use their iPad for more than just navigating the web and streaming media apps. The 11-inch screen is an OLED display with a maximum brightness of 1,600 nits and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, making it ideal for creators who need to see accurate colors for pictures or videos. The processing power can easily handle heavy-duty apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, or Photoshop. A 120Hz refresh rate also means games will look smooth. As far as battery life, you can expect about 10 hours depending on your use, and a charge that takes about two hours to get to full. Keep in mind Apple switched to USB-C charging, and this iPad does not support wireless charging. Since this is not the cellular version, you'll be limited to wifi signal. You can get the Apple Pencil Pro and the Magic Keyboard if you want to complete the set, but of course, they're not necessary. If you're not going to be doing heavy work, the iPad Air will do just fine. But if you're looking for the best tablet to perform professional tasks, the iPad Pro M4 is at a great price right now. View the full article

Anyone well-versed in internet lore will be familiar with the image of a slightly deflated child’s ball pit on a hotel convention room floor. DashCon (originally called Tumblr-Con, although not officially affiliated with Tumblr) was a fan convention held in Schaumburg, Illinois, back in 2014. It was originally intended to bring the Tumblr community together and scheduled to feature vendors and special guests from fandoms like Doctor Who and Sherlock. After a string of disasters, the weekend culminated in the 17-year-old organizer, Nessie O’Neil, going around with a paper bag asking attendees for donations to make up the roughly $17,000 needed to keep the convention afloat. Afterward, it was immortalized as one of the internet’s most infamous failures. In the years since, people have tried and failed to bring DashCon back. And now another group is trying to revive DashCon once again—not as a Tumblr convention, but as an internet history con. In addition to honoring the original event, DashCon 2 will celebrate “a very specific era of fandom culture,” the codirectors wrote on their website. “We want to bring people together to reminisce on an era long past, and to celebrate the local artists, performers, and creators of today.” The new DashCon website did not include the organizers’ last names. They are identified as Avis (“Literally assigned tumblr sexyman at birth”) and Simone (“Goddess of audacious emailing.”) Why now? None of the DashCon 2 team is affiliated with DashCon’s original organizers, and O’Neil is also not involved this time round. Details of DashCon 2 plans were released yesterday, when the team said they have “no intention of repeating DashCon’s mistakes.” Organizers say DashCon 2 will be held at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) in Toronto on July 5. Tickets will go live on February 22, and vendor applications will be open on February 1. “Our team of organizers actually have experience in event coordination, or fields with transferable skills,” the organizers wrote on Substack. “We’ve taken our time to plan the road ahead carefully.” Reactions online have been mixed, from cautious excitement to trepidation. “I will be buying tickets for Dashcon 2 and if I get ripped off? Buddy you won’t need to tell me so, I will know it was entirely my fault,” one user posted on X. “I just found out DashCon 2 is occurring,” another wrote. “We cannot escape the curse.” In fact, there have already been bumps along the road. In regards to the current venue, the organizers admitted, “The JCCC wasn’t our first pick. Our first pick, who we won’t name, dropped us unexpectedly after months of negotiations.” The date also had to be changed from the same weekend as the original DashCon to the day after the American Fourth of July celebrations. “In our defense, we didn’t really think of that,” the team wrote. “We’re Canadian.” Of course, the main question is will there be a ball pit? The answer is yes. View the full article

Whole Foods workers at a Philadelphia store just voted this week to unionize, becoming the first store at the Amazon-owned grocery chain to do so. But then the Trump Administration dealt a blow to the National Labor Relations Board, ousting two officials in a move that labor experts say violates the law—and will hamper worker rights, including around bargaining union contracts. President Trump fired both the NLRB’s General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, who was a Biden appointee, and Democratic board member Gwynne Wilcox. Wilcox’s firing is unprecedented and illegal, experts say; it marks the first time in 90 years that a president has fired a board member, and violates a statute that says board members can be removed “for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.” Because of existing vacancies, Wilcox’s termination leaves the board with just two members. (The board is meant to have five members when fully staffed.) That means it’s short of the quorum needed to decide any cases—and so the NLRB’s powers to protect workers are, essentially, halted. “What this says is [the Trump administration] is OK with effectively denying workers in this country protection for their right to collectively bargain,” says Sharon Block, executive director of the Center for Labor and a Just Economy at Harvard Law School. “With a board down to just two members, it can’t function. And if it can’t function, then the rights of American workers can’t function.” Voting to unionize is just one step of the process. Bargaining a contract is another. Under the National Labor Relations Act, companies must bargain in good faith, but there’s little teeth to that law—and no monetary fines. Because of these weak labor laws, bargaining can take years. A 2018 study found that 63% of unions failed to reach a first contract within one year of winning their election; after two years, 43% of unions still had no contract. This has played out in recent prominent union efforts. Starbucks workers, who first unionized in December 2021, still don’t have a contract. Amazon warehouse workers first unionized in April 2022 and also still do not have a contract. Throughout those processes, there have been multiple NLRB cases and complaints—whether concerning the fact that Amazon has been illegally refusing to bargain, or that Starbucks illegally denied pay and benefits to union workers, and so on. Now those complaints will have nowhere to be heard. Labor advocates have been calling for stronger laws to help workers for years, pointing out that the current remedies are weak. “But now, companies know that there’s nobody to even find that they failed to bargain in good faith,” Block says of the fact that the board is down to two members. Though the fact that Whole Foods workers elected to unionize is notable, Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, which already shown with its warehouse employees the ability to slow the process down so it takes years. This doesn’t bode well for Whole Foods workers in terms of them quickly securing a contract. Trump’s firing of Wilcox makes that even less likely. “It’s up to Whole Foods whether they will abide by the outcome of the election or not,” Block says. “The law is effectively sitting on the sidelines.” There is some work that the board can still do, she notes; the acting general counsel could issue complaints, and there could be investigations. “But none of those activities can lead to the ultimate decision of, ‘has the law been violated or not’ or ‘who won the election,’” she says. “All of those ultimate decisions are entrusted to the board, so if you don’t have a majority, everything is just sort of preliminary. …Decisions can’t be made, so ultimately, rights can’t be vindicated.” Block doesn’t want to underestimate Whole Foods workers—but admits they face a challenge. “These are workers who are obviously very determined and brave that they stood up to a company that’s been clear that it doesn’t want their workers to have a union. So that doesn’t mean that [the workers] can’t keep making noise,” she says. “But they’ve lost an important ally, and ally that Congress expected to be there to stand with workers.” (When asked for comment, the United Food and Commercial Workers, which represents Whole Foods, pointed only to a release congratulating Whole Foods workers on their union victory.) It’s a challenge all workers now face. Though companies have long drawn out the bargaining process, and even have long violated labor laws generally, this move shows that those bad actions will be exacerbated under the Trump administration. There’s nothing to stop unions from continuing to communicate with the public, Block notes—and public support for and interest in unions has been growing. But when it comes to any pressure on companies to abide by labor law, “there’s nothing pushing them on the other side right now.” View the full article

Monday’s memo from the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pausing federal grants and loans set off a scramble in Washington and across the nation as administrators and individuals tried to figure out how the order would affect funding, from the SBA to Medicaid to the Pell grant program. (It also drew a flurry of lawsuits.) An addendum issued Tuesday has offered a bit more information, but things are still hardly crystal clear. The original memo, from acting director Matthew J. Vaeth, ordered federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligations or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance” and conduct a “comprehensive analysis” of their grant and loan programs. Specifically, those analyses were to ensure the programs fell in line with Donald Trump’s executive orders banning federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, limiting clean energy spending, and more. Slated to go into effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET, the new rules have baffled both federal organizations and private companies that work with them. In an attempt to clarify things, the OMB put out another memo Tuesday, saying the pause was not across the board. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, in her first briefing, also attempted to explain the freeze, but didn’t provide much more clarity other than to reiterate that the ban would not impact individual benefits. It’s still unclear how many programs will be affected and for how long, but here’s where things stand with some of the largest programs. SBA loans The Tuesday memo clarified that the freeze is not an across-the-board action and was “expressly limited to programs, projects, and activities impacted by the President’s Executive Orders.” Funds for small businesses, it read, will not be paused. (The Small Business Administration did not reply to Fast Company’s request for comment about the memo.) Student loans Student loans, including Pell grants, are also safe, the second memo said. “Any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process.” Leavitt echoed this in her press conference, saying, “Individuals who receive direct assistance, you will not be impacted by this freeze.” Medicaid But with Medicaid, things have been a little more murky. Tuesday’s OMB memo said Medicaid would continue without pause. But Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), on BlueSky Tuesday, said his staff had confirmed reports that Medicaid portals, which tie into the Federal Payment Management System (FMPS), were down in all 50 states after the funding freeze. (A search of select state portals shows them to be operational, but some have reported they are currently locked out of the FMPS.) That followed a report from the Chicago Sun-Times that Illinois had been cut off from the portal used to request and manage Medicaid spending. The FMPS website, Tuesday afternoon, had an alert at the top of its webpage: “Due to Executive Orders regarding potentially unallowable grant payments, PMS is taking additional measures to process payments. Reviews of applicable programs and payments will result in delays and/or rejections of payments.” (The Head Start preschool program for low-income children also uses FMPS to access funds.) Leavitt later posted on X, referring to the portal problems as an outage. “The White House is aware of the Medicaid website portal outage,” she posted. “We have confirmed no payments have been affected—they are still being processed and sent. We expect the portal will be back online shortly.” SNAP benefits The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), which helps low-income adults purchase food is another “mandatory program” that OMB said would not be affected by the freeze. Social Security and Medicare OMB, in its original memo, went out of its way to note that Social Security and Medicare payments would not be impacted by the order. Rental assistance Monday’s clarifying memo said funds for rental assistance will not be paused. Countless other disbursements, such as health grants distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developers expecting federal grants, and programs from the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health, Justice and Human Services, and more are still in question. View the full article

Brothers Jake Paul and Logan Paul made social media announcements Tuesday that suggested their next fight will be against each other and aired on HBO Max. Calling it the “moment you’ve waited a decade for,” the posts featured a head-to-head shot of the brothers with a March 27 date and the HBO Max logo. Further details were not included in the posts. Jake Paul, 28, and Logan Paul, 29, are both YouTube stars who know how to create a buzz. Their exhibitions have drawn the interest of the biggest names in combat sports. Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in November in an eight-round unanimous decision. Logan Paul went the distance in an exhibition against Floyd Mayweather in 2021. An HBO Max fight would be a first for the Pauls, who have had their bouts aired on other platforms including DAZN, Showtime, Fanmio, ESPN+ and Netflix. Jake Paul and Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, broke records. Promoters said in November that the Tyson-Paul fight was the highest-grossing combat sports event ever in Texas, pulling in $18.1 million. BetMGM said the bout was by far its most-bet boxing or mixed-martial arts fight, taking three times the number of bets and four times the money of any combat sport in its history. Logan Paul is a part-time performer for World Wrestling Entertainment. He has been wildly successful in WWE, having claimed the United States Championship and participated in several premium live events. The fight with his brother would be just weeks before WrestleMania, the biggest event on the pro wrestling calendar. It’s unclear whether a fight between Logan Paul and former UFC champion Conor McGregor will happen. McGregor said in December that he was in “preliminary agreements” with the family of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani to fight Logan Paul in India. View the full article