ResidentialBusiness

For all of the risks and potential dangers associated with crypto, it is still becoming an increasingly mainstream asset. That’s according to the latest data from the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA), a non-profit aimed at helping Americans better understand cryptocurrency and digital assets. One in five Americans currently owns cryptocurrency in some shape or form, according to the NCA’s 2025 State of Crypto Holders Report. The report, which was produced with The Harris Poll, also finds that nearly 40% use crypto to pay for goods or services, and that two-thirds say that crypto “has a positive impact on their lives.” The data was sourced from a Harris Poll survey conducted in January and February this year, from a pool of 54,000 respondents that was winnowed down to 10,000 crypto holders. It’s the largest survey conducted to date of crypto holders. A couple of other interesting findings include that nearly 40% of American crypto holders live in the South—more than double the amount that live in the Midwest (17%) or the Northeast (18%). Twenty-six percent live in the West. Also, while 14% of crypto holders work in the tech sector, 12% work in construction. And only 7%, a perhaps surprisingly low number, work in finance. The report also notes that crypto owners are a fairly diverse set, and that one reason is that “crypto has a surprisingly low bar for entry.” That is true—in many cases, all that’s needed to start purchasing crypto is a brokerage account and a few dollars, as many cryptocurrencies have low values. But that also makes it a fairly risky field. In 2023, for instance, the amount lost to crypto scams added up to more than $5.6 billion, according to FBI data. Early estimates seem to indicate that the total lost to crypto scams during 2024 will be at least double that amount. Either way, the report points to a rather obvious conclusion: Crypto seems to be growing, and even becoming more mainstream. Of course, that’s as the NCA is also pushing for more mainstream adoption of crypto itself. The organization launched just one month ago. View the full article

Washington’s two biggest trade partners still face a host of levies from their neighbourView the full article

The FBI intervened in the incident, which a lawyer for the company's CEO said was a response to another man's actions. View the full article

MOST business leaders assume that if they roll out the right strategy, success will follow. But the truth is, even the best strategy will fail without full buy-in from your team. Lack of buy-in is the silent killer of growth. It’s why so many marketing initiatives fall flat, why sales teams resist new processes, and why companies struggle to implement real change. If your employees aren’t aligned, your customers will feel it. And if your customers feel it, they won’t trust you. The Real Reason Strategies Fail The biggest mistake CEOs make is assuming that once they decide on a direction, their team will automatically follow. But people don’t resist change because they’re lazy or unwilling—they resist it because they don’t understand why it matters to them. If your leadership team makes decisions behind closed doors and then announces them as mandates, don’t be surprised when your employees push back—or worse, disengage entirely. The companies that thrive aren’t the ones with the best ideas; they’re the ones that get their teams to believe in those ideas. How to Get Your Team Fully Invested To build a company that executes at the highest level, buy-in can’t be an afterthought—it has to be built into your culture. Here’s how: Involve Your Team Early – People support what they help create. Instead of rolling out a fully baked strategy, bring your team into the conversation from the start. When employees feel heard, they’re far more likely to take ownership of the outcome. Communicate the Why—Not Just the What – Telling your team what to do isn’t enough. They need to understand why it matters. If they don’t see how a new initiative connects to their success, they won’t give it their full effort. Remove the Fear of Change – Many employees resist new initiatives because they’re afraid of failure or increased workload. Address these fears head-on by showing how changes will make their jobs easier, more impactful, or more rewarding. Model Buy-In from the Top – Leaders set the tone. If the CEO and leadership team aren’t visibly invested in a new strategy, don’t expect the rest of the company to be. Buy-in starts at the top and cascades downward. The Bottom Line: Your Strategy is Only as Strong as Your Buy-In A great strategy without buy-in is worthless. The companies that grow the fastest aren’t just the ones with bold ideas—they’re the ones that get their entire team aligned, engaged, and committed to execution. So, before you ask, “Is this the right strategy?” ask yourself, “Does my team actually believe in it?” Because if they don’t, nothing else matters. * * * Marcus Sheridan is an internationally known keynote speaker, author, and business strategist who has transformed the way companies build trust and drive sales. As a partner at IMPACT, Marcus and his team coach businesses through the implementation of the principles in this book. This post was adapted from Endless Customers: A Proven System to Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Become the Market Leader * * * Follow us on Instagram and X for additional leadership and personal development ideas. * * * View the full article

Republican lawmakers, mulling a new partial claim proposal, slammed the expiring program that has purchased thousands of mortgages as Biden-era overreach. View the full article

Google now lets you automatically add screenshots of landing pages in Demand Gen campaigns. This new feature is designed to boost engagement. The feature appears as a checkbox option labeled “Show a screenshot of your landing page in your ads” and is reportedly enabled by default for some advertisers. Who benefits: Companies with visually appealing websites. Advertisers looking to A/B test visual preview creatives against standard formats. Campaigns focused on demand generation video ads, where visual elements are crucial. The catch. The landing page screenshot becomes part of the ad creative itself, making the visual quality of destination pages even more critical to advertising success. This visual preview capability could also significantly impact click-through rates and user expectations, as potential customers can now see what awaits them before clicking. Why we care. This update could be a game-changer for first impressions. By showing landing page screenshots in ads, Google sets a visual expectation before the click, making design quality more critical. The better the page looks, the more likely users are to engage. For brands with strong visuals, it’s a chance to stand out earlier in the customer journey, attract more qualified clicks, and cut down on wasted ad spend. What they’re saying. Landing pages “should always be on point when spending on Google Ads,” and this feature raises the stakes for landing page design, according to Thomas Eccel, head of Google Ads at agency JungvMattIMPACT, on Linkedin. Bottom line. So far, the feature only appears in lead gen video ads, but it could roll out more widely if it’s successful. What to watch. How this feature impacts conversion rates, whether users respond positively to seeing landing page previews before clicking, and if Google expands this capability across its broader advertising ecosystem. View the full article

If you're reading this, chances are you've used ChatGPT. But have you paid for ChatGPT? OpenAI offers a number of ways to do so, but the cheapest plan is $20 per month. It's pretty steep, especially since the company continues to offer premium features for free users. However, there are still plenty of features and perks exclusive to paying customers. If you're interested in these options, and you happen to be a college student in the United States or Canada, good news: ChatGPT Plus is now free for you, for a very limited time. Who is eligible? You can only take advantage of this offer if you are a full or part-time student at a degree-granting school in either the U.S. or Canada. Don't be dissuaded if you don't see your school when attempting to sign up for the offer: OpenAI has a support link to help find or add your school to the list. This tool may also confirmed whether your school is ineligible. You need to be physically present in the U.S. (and its territories) or Canada to sign up for this offer, too—VPNs will not work, unless its a whitelisted educational VPN. OpenAI says it'll confirm your student credentials through a service called SheerID. If the service is unable to verify you through your school's registrar office, or via your school's single sign-on service, you may need to provide SheerID with extra documents to prove your eligibility. SheerID says it only uses this data to authenticate your eligibility for this promotion, and does not sell or share your data with third parties. While you are eligible if you have an existing ChatGPT Pro account, you are not eligible if that account is through Google Play or Apple's App Store. You'll need to make a new account in order to get ChatGPT Plus for free. ChatGPT Pro users are also not eligible. What do you get?If you are indeed eligible for the promotion, you can claim ChatGPT Plus from now through May 31, 2025. Once you make your claim, you get two months of ChatGPT Plus for free. So, if you sign up on May 31, you'll have free access through July 31. Once that period is up, OpenAI will charge you the typical $20 per month rate. As said above, this applies to existing ChatGPT Plus subscribers, too. If you verify that you are a student, OpenAI will credit your account for the two month promotional period. This promotion includes the full ChatGPT Plus service. That comes with all of the features of the free plan, including GPT-4o mini access, GPT-4o and o3-mini access, web search, file uploads, data analysis, image generation, and voice mode. In addition, Plus offers extended limits on things like messages, file uploads, analysis, and image creation, advanced voice mode with video and the ability to share your screen, deep research for more analytical queries, GPT-4.5 preview access, custom GPTs, tasks, and limited access to OpenAI's Sora video generator. How to get ChatGPT Plus for freeIf you think you're eligible, head to OpenAI's official promotional site here. Once it loads, click either "Claim offer" button you see. Log into your account, then follow the on-screen instructions to verify your identity as an eligible student. View the full article

Executive order gives video app’s Chinese owner another 75 days to find buyer before US ban hitsView the full article

Google Analytics introduced a new AI-powered feature called Generated insights that automatically detects and explains significant data fluctuations. The feature uses natural language to surface trends and anomalies — potentially saving you hours of manual work and so you can react faster to what’s really going on. How it works. The Generated insights feature identifies unusual patterns (e.g., unexpected conversion spikes), then analyzes several combinations of dimensions and metrics to determine probable causes. It then delivers explanations in plain language directly within the Analytics interface. Generated insights appear natively within detailed reports. Explanations are presented conversationally, “almost like a colleague summarizing key takeaways.” The system proactively identifies connections between dimensions that might explain data anomalies. Why we care. Google Analytics’ new Generated Insights feature automatically explains data fluctuations in plain language, saving hours of manual investigation. This means faster campaign adjustments when performance changes, better understanding of what drives results, and the ability for team members without deep analytics expertise to make data-driven decisions. By immediately understanding why conversion rates spike or drop, advertisers can optimize budgets more effectively and gain a competitive edge through quicker responses to emerging trends. Between the lines. This automation addresses a common pain point for marketers and analysts who previously spent hours manually investigating data fluctuations across different segments and variables. The big picture. This move aligns with Google’s broader strategy of embedding generative AI across its product ecosystem, following similar AI-powered features in Google Workspace, Search, and other properties. What’s next. Users interested in the feature can learn more through Google’s documentation on Generated insights. View the full article

The US president wants to unwind decades of economic integration. The risk of a 1930s-style global trade war is causing markets to panicView the full article

Google’s Performance Max (PMax) campaign type has reached its third anniversary. It has evolved from what critics called “an experiment funded by advertisers” into a mature advertising solution that’s reshaping digital marketing across platforms, according to Mike Ryan, head of ecommerce insights at Smarter Ecommerce. By the numbers. Here are some of the key findings from Smarter Ecommerce internal data: PMax cost share peaked at nearly 82% in May 2024. It has since declined about 0.65% per month, losing ~6% share since peak. 90% of PMax costs typically come from feed-based ads. PMax campaigns need at least 30 monthly conversions (ideally 60+) for optimal performance. Cautious optimism. Is PMax’s recent decline in adoption a temporary setback or a signal of broader advertiser dissatisfaction? Based on recent feature additions, Ryan said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the future of PMax. State of play: Most advertisers maintain 3-7 PMax campaigns per account, with evidence showing that excessive segmentation can hurt performance. The data shows a strong preference for Maximize Conversion Value over Maximize Conversions bidding strategies. Why we care. PMax campaigns represent a significant advertising evolution, leveraging AI to optimize ad placements across Google’s network, including Search, Display, YouTube, and more. Despite some recent decline in adoption, PMax continues to improve with added controls and features, making it a key tool for maximizing conversions and ROI across multiple platforms. What’s next: Google might be increasing PMax’s feature parity with Standard Shopping to eventually deprecate the latter, continuing a pattern that already saw Dynamic Search Ads decline after PMax’s rollout, Ryan theorized. What Google is saying. In response to this report, Google Ads Liaison Ginny Marvin clarified a few functionalities and updates people should be aware of on X: Standard Shopping campaigns will continue to be supported, contrary to concerns about deprecation: “There are no plans to deprecate Standard Shopping. In fact, we’ve been adding features to Standard Shopping (for example, the profit optimization beta). The goal is to provide a consistent experience for advertisers who choose to use both campaign types.” When products appear in both PMax and Standard Shopping campaigns, they compete based on Ad Rank, with the bid being a key factor: “When you have overlapping products in PMax & Standard Shopping, they compete on Ad Rank, which in this case considers the bid, as you’ve noted. But to clarify, that doesn’t mean you’re in effect bidding against yourself. It just means the campaign with the highest bid/target will be selected for the auction. It won’t “result in bid escalation.” When ads from Performance Max and Demand Gen campaigns are eligible for the same placement, Ad Rank determines which is most relevant: “When ads from PMax & Demand Gen are both eligible to show, Ad Rank determines which ad is most relevant and selected for the auction. (The campaigns don’t bid against each other.) We’ve seen that these campaigns can complement each other. The key is to be clear about your goals for each campaign type.” The big picture. Performance Max has fundamentally altered the digital advertising landscape, inspiring similar “black box” ad solutions across platforms from Microsoft, Meta, TikTok, Amazon, and Pinterest. Bottom line. Despite critiques, Performance Max has established “black box” platform-managed campaigns as the future of digital marketing. As Ryan puts it: “Like it or not, I would argue we need to surf the wave, not fight the tide.” Report methodology. Ryan analyzed over 4,000 PMax retail campaigns across 500+ advertiser accounts, finding that while some advertisers are pulling back, Google has significantly improved the platform by adding controls that were “unimaginable” back in 2022. Dive deeper. Read the full study here. View the full article

Italy will effectively have casting vote on whether to support use of anti-coercion instrument to hit US services exports View the full article

Despite inflation concerns, slowing growth raises expectations of rate cutsView the full article

Your business operations are only as good as your ability to monitor and control them. For example, manufacturing teams would be lost without a controlling process that lets them measure and improve on their management function. The process of controlling management is essential for any business to remain viable. When you monitor with software and control the process of your manufacturing, you’re able to see what works and what isn’t working. What Is Controlling Process in Business Management? The controlling process in business management is when managers set, measure and refine their business operations and manage cost control. By using a controlling process, a company can navigate changes to the supply chain, customer demand and other variables that impact a company’s livelihood. It’s a critical task in keeping any business solvent. Through the process of controlling in management, a company can accurately tell if plans are moving in the right direction and are fully implemented. If those plans aren’t working and take the company off-track, they can right the ship and stay on course. Project management software helps you measure performance. ProjectManager is software that does this in real time. You can see the difference between your planned and actual effort with ProjectManager’s live dashboard. The dashboard collects production data, automatically crunches the numbers and then displays the result in easy-to-read graphs and charts. Try ProjectManager today for free! /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Light-mode-portfolio-dashboard-CTA-1600x851.pngLearn more Who Is Involved in the Controlling Process? A range of individuals and groups are involved in the controlling process, but the specific people involved can vary depending on the company’s size and structure. Usually, management such as the executive team, the CEO and the department managers are involved. They work to set the overall strategic goals and business targets, and are responsible for monitoring their team’s performance. The finance department, including the CFO and financial analysts, is also involved as they help ensure the controlling process offers relevant and reliable information for strategic decision making and financial reporting. While not directly involved in controlling, employees across departments may contribute to this process by offering data related to their role, following established budgets or providing feedback. Controlling Process Steps in Business Management There is a five-step procedure for controlling processes that will help you set, measure and tweak your business activities—whether that’s production, packaging, delivery or another business process. If you’re not applying a controlling process, then you’re not really managing your business processes. You can’t lead your workforce without controlling the process. For organizational control that leads to fulfilling your company’s goals and strategic plans, follow these five steps: 1. Set Performance Standards You need a goal for your business, but you also need guidance for your team to keep them working towards that goal. Without such standards, it’s possible that they’ll move away from the plan, whether intentionally or not. Standards are like goals tasked to a specific department or team member. They must achieve these standards through cooperation, teamwork and a collaborative effort. To ensure these standards are being met, though, you must-have criteria to measure them by. By setting up rules you can measure with, you can judge or rate performance to keep the results standard. This helps management understand how production is progressing, and whether it’s on track or needs adjustment. Having standards to base performance on means that work doesn’t have to stop to get a picture of how it’s progressing. There are two groups of standards: tangible (or specific) and intangible (or abstract). The former is measurable; you can see it and count it. The latter cannot be seen nor counted. A tangible standard would be time, cost, profit, expenditure, output, etc. Intangible standards are a manager’s performance, a worker’s attitude and so forth. /wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Project-Status-Report-Template.png Get your free Status Report Template Use this free Status Report Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File 2. Measure Performance Setting a standard makes it possible to measure performance using a control function. Through this measurement of performance, you can quickly catch and correct any deviation from the plan before it goes off-track and runs production into the ground. Measurements are easier when dealing with tangible standards that can be seen and counted. This is naturally more difficult with intangible standards. By definition, intangible performance is difficult to measure in an information system, as you cannot quantify it. One way to make up for this shortcoming is by looking at a manager’s performance through the eyes of their team. What is the team attitude like towards their work? Is morale high? How are communications between the team and the manager? Is the team loyal to each other, their manager and the company? Although these are intangible standards, together they paint a picture of the manager’s performance. All of those questions speak to the ability of the manager to successfully manage their team. Draft the standard for measuring what teams do, what is their expected performance, etc. You can collect this data regularly by reports, whether weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly. 3. Compare Actual Performance Against Performance Standards Once you have a baseline for how your teams are performing when manufacturing, packaging, delivering, etc., you can compare the actual to the planned performance and determine the extent of the deviation. This is called variance, or the difference between actual performance and goals. Schedules can be immensely helpful when it comes to analyzing variance. ProjectManager has online Gantt charts that allow you to set concrete milestones and project phases, so you can see at a glance if you are ahead or behind schedule. Plus, the Gantt updates in real time as your team completes their work. Take a free trial and build a schedule in minutes. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Gantt_Construction_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg Get started for free The manager must look at this data and accept or reject the outcome. This depends on the deviation and the impact on the business. If everything is going as expected, that’s great, but it’s more likely that there will be deviation of some sort. It’s up to the manager to determine if that gap is one that can be ignored or acted on. 4. Analyze Deviations This brings us to the next step: where you analyze data using the acceptable limits. If standards weren’t met, the manager must then figure out whether more control is required—or if maybe, the standard itself should be changed. If there is a gap between planned and actual performance, the next step is figuring out what is causing it and what the extent of it is. Then, you have to determine how this deviation is impacting the business. If the difference is only a small one, then it’s probably okay to ignore it. But if the gap reflects gains, appointing workers, changing or repairing equipment and other critical issues, it must be addressed. A gap analysis template can help in that decision-making process. /wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Gap-Analysis-Screenshot-600x200.jpgDownload now 5. Take Corrective Actions Once you have analyzed the deviation and determined its cause, the manager will have to set up a plan in which corrective measures, critical point control and other means are used to resolve the issue. This is to reduce the deviation and ensure the standard is met. This might involve changes to processes and/or behaviors. Some situations discovered in a controlling process might require corrective action to save the business, while others might just be a below-standard performance that needs correcting to improve processes and bring production back on schedule. Therefore, actions might be needed immediately because of the urgency. Corrective actions include a variety of activities. For example, you might change how certain business operations are carried out. However, some operations and performances might not be able to change and may require more resources. For example, hiring more team members might be the solution to correct the deviation you’ve discovered. It’s important that managers monitor and control the process from start to finish. That includes not only the controlling process but any actions planned to resolve the deviation or reset the standards. An understanding of the controlling process shows if plans are being met and, if not, what actions need to take place in order for them to be met. How to Get Buy-in From Your Team for the Controlling Process For the controlling process to be effective, the team needs to buy into it. This often revolves around focusing on communication, transparency and involvement. For example, the top management team can explain why certain controlling measures are put into place and how they benefit the overall business. When team members can understand how their work impacts the bigger picture, they are more likely to understand the importance of their work. As performance standards are apparent in the controlling process, it’s ideal to share the results openly and honestly. This can help build trust and show those in the business that data is being used constructively. Teams need the right training and support to hit their performance standards. Make sure they have the knowledge and skills to understand the controlling process, any relevant KPIs and how their work contributes to the bottom line. If needed, offer training on software or tools that can help with data collection and reporting. Templates to Help the Control Process Project management templates are one of the most helpful tools a project manager can utilize during the control process. Here are a handful that can help. Quality Control Template Download this free quality control template for Excel for a standardized way to establish and maintain production standards. It details quality assurance measures and methods of accountability to ensure the delivery of quality products. Operating Budget Template Cost control is integral to the control process. Use this free operating budget template for Excel to forecast revenue and expenses over a period. It helps map out the expected costs for the quarter or year ahead, resulting in a more accurate budget. Corrective Action Plan Template If plans aren’t moving in the right direction, a company should take action. Download this free corrective action plan template for Excel to outline and develop the action items that can correct errors, reduce risks and improve processes. How ProjectManager Helps With the Control Process Steps ProjectManager is onlind work management software that manages plans and monitors performance in real time to help managers make more insightful decisions. Multiple project views make it easy for hybrid teams to use the tool how they want, no matter where they are, what they do or their level of expertise. Track Progress on Gantt Charts Setting performance standards can be done on ProjectManager’s interactive Gantt charts. Milestones can be set, tasks assigned and priority and other tags added to better organize the standards. A baseline is set to capture the plan, which can then be used later to compare the actual performance with the standards and goals set. Then, the manager can share the Gantt with the team and stakeholders. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Notifications_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg Measure Performance on Dashboards Measuring actual performance is more accurate with ProjectManager’s cloud-based reporting software. It collects data in real time and displays them on the live dashboard, which also can be shared with stakeholders. Reports are a way to dig deeper into the data. Teams can deliver status reports to update their performance as they execute their tasks, and managers can generate reports on variance, workload, timesheets and more. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Reports_Wide_Zoom-150_Project-Status-Report.jpg Manage Workload and Reallocate Resources Resource management tools help you analyze and take corrective action. Workload is one of the standards that can slow down production if too few team members are tasked with too many tasks. ProjectManager’s color-coded chart shows you who is overallocated, and then you can reallocate resources right from the workload chart. Once the workload is balanced, production will increase as will team morale. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Workload_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg ProjectManager is award-winning software that helps with controlling processes. It has features to help you plan, monitor and report on performance. Multiple project views make it accessible to anyone from management to team members. It’s perfect for hybrid teams looking to improve their work management. Try ProjectManager today! The post Controlling Process Steps in Business Management appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

We may earn a commission from links on this page. Air travel may be fast, but it’s also often a source of stress and discomfort. Aside from tight seats, delays, and generally uncomfortable accommodations, airlines have been nickel-and-diming us with fees for just about everything, including luggage. Checked bag fees range around $30 to $40 to start, so it’s not surprising that more and more people are trying to travel with just their carry-on. Restricting yourself to a single carry-on is liberating—no more waiting at the luggage carousel, no more dragging a bulky, heavy roller behind you everywhere—but also limiting in terms of space. Clever packing, like rolling your clothes, can help get the most out of a carry-on, but eventually, you run up against the laws of physics. If you really want to stretch that carry-on’s capacity to the limit, here are a few clever items you can buy that will help you with that project. Packing cubesAs our own Beth Skwarecki will tell you, packing cubes are life-changing. They contain all your loose items—like those rolled-up shirts—so they stay in their pristine, efficient configuration instead of getting disorganized and chaotic. Compression cubes can also shrink down many of your items so they take up as little space as possible. They also make it a lot easier to use the space inside your carry-on efficiently, transforming a bunch of oddly-shaped stuff into neat cubes that can be quickly arranged and re-arranged. Finally, they can be used to separate out your stuff by use case, so you can keep stuff neatly packed away when you access the stuff you need right now. Vacuum bagsIf compression packing cubes can shrink down some of your stuff, imagine an entire carry-on that compresses itself. Vacuum seal carry-on backpacks have a built-in vacuum that compresses everything inside all at once with the touch of a button, making the bag as small and easily stowed as possible. The two downsides to a vacuum-sealed carry-on are access and security. If you need to grab something from your carry-on, you’ll have to decompress it first. In terms of getting these bags through security at the airport, the TSA says they are “discouraged” but allowed, so you can get them through. But the TSA agents may force you to decompress them so they can inspect the contents—especially if the compression makes it difficult to make out what’s in there. Because of the built-in vacuum, you should be able to re-seal the bag after you grab your stuff or have it inspected, but it’s still a downside. Stuffable neck pillowsIf you’re going to use a neck pillow on the plane, why not buy one that lets you easily stuff it full of rolled-up clothing or other soft items? Every shirt you get into a neck pillow is a shirt you don’t have to fit into your carry-on, opening up space for other items or making your packing job just a little bit easier, and you still get the benefit of a neck pillow. It’s a win-win! Belt bagsBelt bags (or fanny packs, as the unwashed call them) are a great way to get just a little extra room in your carry-on. It’s true that many airlines will consider a visible belt bag to be a personal item and demand that you stuff it into your carry-on when boarding. But that can only happen if they see it—choosing a slim, compressed belt bag like this one will allow you to wear it under your clothes while boarding, and no one will be the wiser. Stackable containers for toiletriesThese hexagonal, magnetic capsules are designed to be the perfect way to bring liquid stuff with you on the plane. They hold 1.32 ounces of stuff, snap together to make packing them very easy, and are pre-labeled so you know exactly what’s in them. It’s a much more efficient way to bring some basics like shampoo, conditioner, or lotion with you than trying to manage tiny plastic bottles or even a lumpy bag of tiny plastic bottles. Solid toiletriesIf you’re going to be packing your own shampoo and other toiletries, consider bringing solid versions—shampoo bars, conditioner, or lotion—instead of their harder-to-manage liquid versions. You could replace your toothpaste with a tooth powder as well, which can be transferred to any appropriately-sized container. These options are not only easier to pack, with less chance of a mess—they also won’t get you into any trouble at the security line, since they’re not liquid. View the full article

Duncan announced the launch of a new company in a social media post in early April after retiring from the government-sponsored enterprise at the end of 2024. View the full article

After a couple of months of testing, Microsoft has officially and formally announced the launch of Copilot Search in Bing. “Today we’re excited to introduce Copilot Search in Bing,” Microsoft announced on its Search blog. Microsoft explained Copilot Search in Bing as: “Copilot Search seamlessly blends the best of traditional and generative search together to help you find what you need – and meet you where you’re at in your discovery journey.” How to access it. You can access this new search experience: (1) Going to Bing.com and accessing it via the navigation bar. (2) Clicking on the suggested, related topics right under relevant answers in Bing. (3) Or going directly to aka.ms/CopilotSearchinBing What Copilot Search does. Microsoft said “Copilot Search in Bing brings state-of-the-art Copilot’s AI to search, so you can spend less time scrolling through pages and more time discovering.” Copilot search can give you “an easy-to-digest summary of the most critical points, a clear answer, or a smart layout of information to help you find what you are looking for,” Bing added. “We’ve set out to deliver helpful, clearly cited sources, plus rich, relevant data, images and videos from your favorite publishers and content owners to inspire you to explore further. No more hunting for bits and pieces across the web to find what you need. With Copilot Search, you get the best of both a traditional search engine and generative AI chat all in one.” What it looks like. Here are some videos of it in action: Why we care. This new Bing search experience, named Copilot Search in Bing, may be Microsoft’s answer to Google’s recent release of AI Mode. Every search engine and many AI companies are looking for the right user experience to make for a winning search and AI engine. Will Copilot Search in Bing be that? View the full article

America’s tariff onslaught will drive upheaval well beyond tradeView the full article

Scrum is a flexible project management methodology that’s designed to help self-organized teams execute projects quickly in an agile environment. The scrum framework consists of artifacts, roles and ceremonies. These elements help product and software development teams manage their work. Scrum artifacts are critical for the success of any scrum team. But before we learn how to use them, we need to define them first. What Are Scrum Artifacts? In software development, the term “artifact” refers to information that stakeholders and the scrum team use to describe a product that’s being developed. Scrum artifacts define the work that must be done, and they always add value during a sprint. In simple terms, scrum artifacts can be seen as nuggets of vital information for the scrum team. They provide structure to the scrum process because they act as guidelines for the product development plan. This is vitally important, especially for distributed teams who may work from home because it provides a platform where they can see how they’re doing on a particular sprint. This keeps everyone on the same page, no matter where they are. Who Makes Scrum Artifacts? Creating and maintaining scrum artifacts is a collective effort, and specific roles are accountable for different items. The product owner is responsible for creating and maintaining the product backlog, and the developers are responsible for the sprint backlog and the increment. The entire scrum team and stakeholders contribute to and use these scrum artifacts throughout the project. ProjectManager is online work and project management software that connects hybrid teams. No matter where or when your scrum team works, they can share scrum artifacts in real time. Our kanban board makes it easy for scrum teams to manage their artifacts and then collaborate to plan sprints. Product owners get visibility into the process of reallocating resources to avoid bottlenecks. /wp-content/uploads/2022/02/agile-sprint-plan-kanban-cta.jpgLearn More! Seven Scrum Artifacts There are three main scrum artifacts, according to the scrum guide. We’ll explain each of them below, along with additional staples of any successful sprint. 1. Product Vision The product vision is the long-term goal of the project or product. It is the artifact you will define to set the overall direction of the project or product. The scrum team will use the product vision as a guide. The importance of the product vision is emphasized by the fact that the scrum team should know it by heart. That means it should be short and to the point. The product vision is something that should always be in the back of a scrum team’s mind. 2. Product Backlog A product backlog is a list of everything that needs to be achieved on a project, broken down into individual items. This is where the baseline requirements of every feature needed for the end product are prioritized by the product owner for the scrum team. It is not a list of unchangeable tasks, and it often evolves. For example, if there is a change in the business environment, marketing conditions or technical demands, the product backlog will reflect those changes. Product backlogs are usually represented using a scrum board. The product backlog is made up of three different types of items. User stories, which are high-level descriptions of a feature, told from the perspective of the end-user of the product. Bugs are problems that arise that the product owner wants to be fixed. Tasks, which are assigned to the scrum team to complete. The backlog grows as the product is being built. When changes are added they can include more detail, estimates or a change in priority. The product owner and the team are regularly working on refining the product backlog. This can occur at any time. The more important the product backlog item, the more detailed it is. When the items in the product backlog are chosen for the next iterative sprint, they are further refined to be developed during the sprint. When the item on the product backlog can be delivered by the team in one sprint, then they are ready for a sprint planning meeting. Refining the Product Backlog Refining the product backlog includes activities such as reviewing the user stories of the highest priority at the top of the backlog, and asking the product owner questions about them. This includes, if necessary, deleting user stories and then writing new ones. This is followed by reprioritizing the product backlog. Then these new user stories need to be estimated in terms of the time it will take to complete them, or others will need to get a new estimate of their duration. Other user stories should be prepared for future sprints, while not losing sight of the big picture of the product architecture as the backlog evolves. 3. Sprint Vision The sprint vision or sprint goal is often not defined as an artifact, it is still an important part of the scrum framework. The sprint vision is what the scrum team comes up with when planning a sprint. It guides the scrum team as to why they are investing their time, money and effort in the sprint. 4. Sprint Backlog The sprint backlog is the part of the product backlog that the team will be working on in their sprint. Think of it as the to-do list for the sprint. The sprint backlog is further broken down into tasks for the team to execute. Every item on the sprint backlog needs to get developed, tested and documented. The product owner helps the scrum team come up with a sprint backlog during their sprint meeting. The sprint backlog is often represented as a task board, which is broken up into columns that represent the workflow. They tend to have the following titles: To-Do, which are tasks that have yet to start Doing, where the work has begun To Verify, which are completed tasks that are waiting for verification by another scrum team member Done, which means no more work is required Refining the Sprint Backlog The sprint backlog, like the product backlog, is a living document and can be changed by the scrum team. Work is discussed regularly at the daily scrum and the sprint backlog is modified as needed. This is all happening during the short sprint, and only the scrum team can make these changes as they occur during the sprint. If there is a requirement for new work, it is added to the sprint backlog. Then as the work is completed, the estimate for what work remains to be done is updated. If there are items that become unnecessary, they are removed. This is known as backlog refining. But, again, only the scrum team can do this. They have ownership over the sprint backlog and this process. The sprint backlog is highly visible and provides a picture of the sprint as the team is working on it. 5. Definition of Done (DOD) The definition of done (DOD) means that all aspects of a user story have been completed in a sprint backlog. The scrum team must have a shared idea of what being done means. They should create a definition of done and use this as a checklist as they work on their user stories. The scrum team can create their DOD during the first sprint planning. It can then be iterated on during their sprint retrospectives. That doesn’t mean a DOD is static. It can change dramatically throughout the project. 6. Product Increment This is the most important scrum artifact. The product increment is all the product backlog items that have been completed during a sprint. Each sprint is potentially creating shippable product increments, and so the product increment must fit into the team’s definition of done and be acceptable to the product owner. The definition of done is a shared one among the scrum team, although it is different for each scrum team. The definition of done evolves as the team matures: it grows more expansive or stringent as the project continues. The product increment is not only the sum of all the project backlog items completed throughout a sprint, but it is also the value of the increments over the last number of completed sprints. This is transparency not only for the team but for the stakeholders in terms of where the product is at the moment. /wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Lessons-Learned-Template.png Get your free Lessons Learned Template Use this free Lessons Learned Template for Excel to manage your projects better. Download Excel File 7. Burndown Chart Though not always considered part of the essential scrum artifacts, the burndown chart is important not to neglect. It is a graphic that shows how fast the team is completing the user stories or items on the product backlog. Therefore, a burndown chart illustrates the total effort against the amount of work for a sprint. The purpose of a burndown chart is to make sure that the project is staying on track, and that the deliverable is going to meet expectations and arrive on schedule. The rate of progress of a scrum team is called velocity, which is the number of story points in the user story that have been completed during the sprint. Partially finished work isn’t calculated into velocity. How to Use Scrum Artifacts Scrum artifacts improve transparency and adaptation in a scrum framework. Here is how each artifact is used. Product Backlog The product backlog is a living document that captures everything that might be needed in the product. The product owner, alongside the developers, will regularly define the backlog, such as adding new items or providing estimates to understand the size and complexity of the work. The backlog also helps guide what developers will work on in future sprints. Sprint Backlog The sprint backlog is a plan that developers create for how they will achieve the sprint goal and make the increment during the sprint. It’s a versatile and real-time picture of the work that the developers aim to accomplish during the sprint. Developers select project backlog items and break them down into smaller, actionable tasks. It offers a clear overview for the team of who is working on what and what items in the sprint are remaining. Product Increment The increment is a scrum artifact that acts as a stepping stone toward the product goal. It’s the sum of all the product backlog items completed during a sprint and all previous sprints. The developers create it during the spring backlog to ensure quality. It’s presented to the product owner and stakeholders during the sprint review, where feedback is provided. Benefits of Scrum Artifacts Numerous benefits stem from scrum artifacts, helping the scrum team and the overall project. They allow for enhanced transparency and a shared understanding for everyone involved. This minimizes misunderstandings and ensures everyone is aligned on the product vision, goals and progress. It outlines what needs to be done and can show the tangible results of the team’s efforts. ProjectManager for Scrum Teams ProjectManager has the features that scrum teams need to easily manage their scrum artifacts. Because it is a cloud-based project management software, it’s especially convenient for remote teams, who can stay in the project loop no matter where they are or when they’re working. Multiple Ways to Manage a Project There are multiple project views in ProjectManager, making it flexible enough to serve agile teams, teams who work in a more traditional methodology and even a hybrid of the two. The kanban board view is ideal for scrum teams. Product backlog items can be collected in kanban cards that can be tagged, due dates added, progress tracked, and assigned to one or more team members. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Kanban_Manufacturing_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg ProjectManager also has unlimited file storage, so goals, user stories and other related sprint materials can be attached to the cards. It’s the perfect tool to manage your product backlog. Have Easy Backlog Grooming The kanban board can also be used for the sprint backlog. Columns are customizable to fit the way your team works. Cards can be dragged and dropped from one column to the next as they move through the workflow. Cards can have personalized to-do lists, and team members can collaborate by commenting on the card. They can even tag the product owner or scrum master, who will get notified by email and brought into the conversation. This provides great transparency for the whole scrum team. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Notifications_Wide_Zoom-175.jpg Use Real-Time Tracking Instead of using a simple burndown chart, ProjectManager calculates your sprint velocity automatically by tracking six project metrics, which are fed instantly to the real-time dashboard. Product owners can monitor task progress, team workload, cost and more to make sure that the sprint is on track. /wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Dashboard_Construction_Wide_Zoom-150.jpg Free your teams with custom workflows to focus on what matters. Automate busywork by setting triggers that create actions and streamline your sprint. Add task approvals to make sure only those authorized to change the status of a user story can do so. ProjectManager is also collaborative to the core with automated email notifications and in-app alerts. There’s a single source of truth that keeps everyone on the scrum team on the same page. Get more productive today by trying ProjectManager for free. ProjectManager is online project management software that helps scrum teams better manage their sprints and product owners control the backlog. A real-time dashboard acts as your burndown chart, so you always know where you are in the project as it’s happening. See what else ProjectManager can do for your scrum team by taking this free 30-day trial today. The post The 7 Scrum Artifacts: Definitions & Examples appeared first on ProjectManager. View the full article

The GOP side of the Banking Committee, led by Sen. Tim Scott, asks FHFA head Bill Pulte to "aggressively" reduce waste at the government-sponsored enterprises. 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. Google released the Pixel 9 smartphones along with the Pixel Watch 3, and the Pixel Buds Pro 2 late last summer. Their second generation earbuds brought some great upgrades, and make them a great value for any Pixel user (although they're compatible with any Android and have limited iOS support). Right now, you can get the Pixel Buds Pro 2 for $179 (originally $229), matching the lowest price they've ever been according to price-tracking tools. Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Brand: Google, Color: Hazel, Ear Placement: In Ear, Noise Control: Active Noise Cancellation $259.00 at Amazon Get Deal Get Deal $259.00 at Amazon The list price for the new Pixel Buds Pro 2 is $29 more than the original Pixel Buds Pro, which have since dropped to $111. Some of the improvements Google has made to the new earbuds to justify the price include a new twisting mechanism that secures to the ear better for more intense workouts, better active noise-cancelling (ANC) thanks to the more snug fit, better audio processing with the new Tensor A1 chip, longer battery life of about eight hours with ANC on and 31 hours from the charging case, and the inclusion og Gemini Live, Android's AI voice assistant. Some things that were not improved this time around: the drivers, wireless charging, and the equalizer options are all the same as the previous generation. The earbuds have an IP54 rating for water resistance and the charging case is also water resistant, with an IPX4 rating. With a full charge, you can expect eight hours of continuous listening with ANC on (12 hours with ANC off) plus an additional 22 hours (36 hours with ANC off) from the charging case. As CNET's review explains, the audio and ANC quality the earbuds will offer you depends on how good of a snug fit you'll get from them. If you're looking for the latest pair of ANC Pixel earbuds with Gemini virtual AI assistant, a smaller design, better ANC, audio and mic quality, these are a good option at this price. View the full article

Six ways your firm will benefit. By Caroline Ready Go PRO for members-only access to more Caroline Ready. View the full article

Six ways your firm will benefit. By Caroline Ready Go PRO for members-only access to more Caroline Ready. View the full article

Get paid for what you’re probably already providing. By Hitendra Patil The Definitive Success Guide to Client Accounting Services Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article

Get paid for what you’re probably already providing. By Hitendra Patil The Definitive Success Guide to Client Accounting Services Go PRO for members-only access to more Hitendra Patil. View the full article