November 2024

Right before the holidays, a Costco Gold Star Membership isn’t just a smart move—it’s a downright brilliant one. For $65, you’ll get a 1-year membership plus a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card*, making it easier than ever to stock up on groceries, access incredible deals on holiday gifts, and even grab some seasonal décor. With this Black Friday promotion, you’re saving money and opening the door to a world of value and convenience.

Here’s how to make the most of this offer. Purchase your membership through StackSocial and ensure your email address is valid. Within two weeks of redeeming your membership, you’ll receive your $45 Digital Costco Shop Card* via email. This can be used online or in-store, giving you even more flexibility. The catch? This deal is only for new Costco members or those whose memberships have been expired for over 18 months. Don’t worry—you have until January 31, 2025, to redeem it.

The benefits don’t stop there. Your Costco Gold Star Membership gives you access to members-only pricing at Costco Gas Stations, helping you save big on fuel whether you’re off to visit family or heading off for a work trip. The perks extend to in-warehouse optical centers and pharmacy services, so you can handle essentials in one convenient trip. Plus, with an additional Household Card included, someone else in your household (18+) can help split the shopping duties.

And let’s talk holiday shopping. Whether you’re looking for electronics, fine jewelry, groceries for that big family feast, or even festive decorations to make your space sparkle, you can find it all in one place—and usually at prices that make you do a double-take. This timely offer makes holiday prep a breeze while setting you up for savings year-round.

Grab this 1-year Costco Gold Star Membership plus a $45 Digital Costco Shop Card* for $65 to help make your holiday season run smoother when you purchase through December 22.

Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + $45 Digital Costco Shop Card* – $65

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

2025 is right around the corner, and if you’re an entrepreneur with big plans, this could be your year to capitalize like never before. The economy, the political climate and the sheer momentum in the business world are all lining up to create a landscape that’s ripe for growth, innovation and opportunity.

Here are five compelling reasons why 2025 might just be the year you’ll look back on as a defining moment in your entrepreneurial journey.

Related: How to Create a Winning Strategic Plan for 2025

1. Lower interest rates mean cheaper capital

After years of navigating high-interest environments, entrepreneurs can finally breathe easier. With inflation easing and the Fed signaling lower interest rates, the cost of capital is on its way down. For those of us looking to expand or scale, this isn’t just a welcome change — it’s a game-changer.

Lower interest rates translate directly into more affordable loans, allowing you to invest more into the areas that count: expanding your team, refining your product or scaling your marketing efforts. Whether you’re using debt or equity, 2025 will give you access to cheaper money to fuel your growth, letting you focus on what you do best without being weighed down by hefty financing costs.

2. Investor motivation is through the roof

Cheaper capital doesn’t just impact entrepreneurs; it impacts investors, too. With the cost of borrowing down, investors will be hungry to make their money work harder. More than ever, venture capital firms, private equity funds and angel investors will be on the lookout for promising startups with visionary leaders at the helm.

In other words, 2025 will be an optimal year for entrepreneurs looking to attract funding. Whether you’re seeking seed money or a massive growth round, you’ll find investors with capital they’re eager to deploy. If you’ve been waiting to pitch that next big idea, now is the time to refine it, perfect it and prepare to sell it.

3. A business-friendly political environment

With a Republican-dominated government projected for the next few years, there’s reason to expect a favorable business climate for entrepreneurs. Historically, Republican administrations have been associated with policies that favor economic growth, reduced regulations and tax incentives designed to benefit businesses of all sizes.

For entrepreneurs, this could mean fewer regulatory hurdles and more resources to invest back into the business. Whether it’s relaxing labor restrictions, streamlining compliance or lowering corporate taxes, 2025 is poised to be a year where entrepreneurship isn’t just encouraged; it’s rewarded. This pro-business environment can open doors to faster growth and innovation, allowing you to stay focused on building rather than battling red tape.

4. Consumer confidence is on the rise

The stock market has shown no sign of slowing down, and if 2025 continues the upward trend, consumers will have more wealth at their disposal. When the market is bullish, people feel wealthier, which typically results in increased consumer spending — a powerful boost for businesses of all kinds.

For entrepreneurs, this means a ready and willing customer base eager to spend on the products and services they trust and value. With consumer confidence climbing, this is your chance to captivate your audience, build loyalty and tap into a market that’s actively looking for fresh, innovative solutions. The economy is only as strong as its consumers, and right now, consumers are feeling stronger than ever.

5. Tech innovation is exploding

We’re living in an era where technological advances are accelerating, and 2025 promises even more breakthroughs. From artificial intelligence and automation to new communication platforms and data analytics, technology is equipping entrepreneurs with tools that make starting, scaling and optimizing a business easier than ever before.

In 2025, you’ll have access to cutting-edge technologies at lower costs, allowing you to streamline operations, reach customers more efficiently and make data-driven decisions with unprecedented precision. Entrepreneurs who embrace these advancements will gain a powerful edge, letting them outmaneuver competitors, scale faster and deliver more value to their customers. Innovation is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity, and 2025 is the perfect year to go all in.

Related: Top 10 Advanced Technology Trends to Watch in 2025

The stars are aligning for entrepreneurs in 2025. Lower interest rates, eager investors, a pro-business political climate, high consumer confidence and a wave of tech innovations are creating a unique and powerful environment that’s ready to fuel your growth. But the opportunity doesn’t mean anything unless you seize it.

For brands, the holiday season is more than just a shopping rush. It’s a time to connect with their audience in a way that feels relevant and memorable. And with competition heating up, you need to be creative and think of new ways to stand out and capture the magic of the season.

With that in mind, here are seven innovative holiday marketing ideas to help your brand stand out and create moments that stick with customers beyond the holidays.

Related: Ho-Ho-Holiday Marketing For Brands — 8 Strategies to Make Your Brand the Star of the Season

1. Themed content campaigns

Themed content is the spirit of the season and can help your brand be present in a warm and festive way across multiple channels.

Create a holiday-themed video series:

One great way to display your brand’s personality and connect with audiences is through short, engaging videos. These videos can make your brand feel approachable and fun, whether you’re sharing holiday tips, showing how your team celebrates or even creating mini tutorials. You can keep audiences coming back for more by sharing them on social media or including them in email newsletters.

Blog posts with holiday tips:

Seasonal tips in holiday blog posts are a win-win: You offer useful content, and you keep your products in the spotlight.

For example, a food brand might post something like “Top 10 Holiday Recipes,” and a home decor business might share “Holiday Decorating Tips.” This kind of content isn’t just informative; it makes your brand a helpful part of your customers’ holiday experience.

2. Social media specials

Festive energy is what social media is all about, and it is the perfect place to launch interactive holiday campaigns that will grab people’s attention and reward engagement.

12 days of giveaways:

Think about doing a “12 Days of Giveaways” campaign in the days leading up to Christmas, giving away a new product or service each day.

This not only increases engagement but also gets people to follow your account for updates and builds buzz for your brand. Each day’s prize can be different and give an opportunity to highlight different offerings of your business in a fun and interactive way.

Holiday countdown:

Another idea is to do a holiday countdown and post daily content up until Christmas or New Year’s Eve. Add urgency by including limited-time flash sales or promotions during the countdown.

This strategy keeps your followers engaged and excited to see what’s coming next, making every day an opportunity to create excitement and drive sales.

3. Personalized email marketing

The holidays are a great time to use email marketing to do more than just promote; you can make your customers feel valued and appreciated.

Seasonal newsletters:

Seasonal newsletters with personalized messages, special discounts or gift ideas based on past purchases make your emails more relevant and compelling. Add in holiday greetings, product recommendations or last-minute gift guides to let customers know you know what they’re looking for this holiday season.

Holiday cards:

A thoughtful touch can be a digital or physical holiday card to your loyal customers with a personalized thank you message. A nice bonus, including a discount or coupon for their next purchase, is a sign of appreciation that encourages repeat purchases.

4. Interactive website features

As a digital storefront, why not make your website feel as festive as the season?

Holiday-themed website overhaul:

Updating your website with holiday graphics, a special logo or animated snow will put the holiday cheer right on customers’ screens. These small touches can truly keep your site feeling fresh and engaging, enticing customers to browse and truly get into the holiday spirit.

Advent calendar on website:

An online advent calendar is a great interactive feature to drive traffic on a daily basis. Each day, customers could open each “door” to see what new product, discount code or exclusive content they could find.

This feature generates a feeling of anticipation and excitement, making visitors want to come back daily to see the next reveal.

Related: The Holiday Marketing Guide for Small Businesses

5. Event-driven promotions

Events are a great way to interact directly with customers while building memorable experiences that will both increase brand loyalty and attract new followers.

Virtual holiday event:

A virtual holiday event is a great way for brands with an online presence to connect with audiences. Host a live product demo, holiday cooking class or a virtual meet and greet with founders, influencers or special guests.

These are interactive events and can be streamed across social platforms to customers near and far. It’s a chance to present your products in a festive, engaging format that will stick with people.

In-store experiences:

If you have a physical location, have exclusive holiday shopping events. Give visitors something to do by offering live music, free gift wrapping or a holiday-themed photo booth. They give the shopping experience a bit of a unique and festive feel that will encourage foot traffic and make your business more likely to be one of your customers’ repeat stops.

6. Partnerships and collaborations

Collaborations with other businesses or influencers who align with your brand values and target audience can expand your reach and bring fresh energy to holiday campaigns.

Collaborate with other businesses:

Working with complementary brands can lead to exciting bundled deals, co-hosted events or joint promotions.

For example, a bakery could team up with a local coffee shop to offer holiday-themed treats or bundled discounts. Not only does this benefit both brands, but it also creates added value for customers, helping everyone get more into the holiday spirit while expanding brand exposure.

Influencer marketing:

Teaming up with influencers during the holidays is an excellent way to tap into new audiences. Influencers can give your brand a credible boost by featuring your products in their holiday content or promoting special deals to their followers.

This type of collaboration brings authenticity to your holiday marketing efforts and helps build trust with potential customers who may be discovering your brand for the first time.

7. Charitable giving

Aligning your brand with charitable activities during the holiday season is an impactful way to make a difference and foster a positive connection with customers.

Charity partnerships:

Consider partnering with a charity and pledging a portion of your holiday sales to support a cause that aligns with your brand values.

This approach not only benefits the charity but also enhances your brand’s reputation, as customers feel good about supporting businesses that give back. Publicize your charity partnership across your social media channels, website and newsletters to maximize awareness and engagement.

Sponsor a holiday drive:

Organizing or sponsoring a holiday drive — whether for toys, food or winter clothing — can bring the community together and increase foot traffic to your store or website. Provide an incentive, like a small discount for customers who donate, to make participating even more rewarding.

With this, customers will remember your business not only for its products but also for its dedication to making the holiday season brighter for others.

Related: 5 Examples of Brands Doing Holiday Marketing Right

The holiday season is a competitive yet valuable time to build your brand’s presence, foster customer loyalty and create lasting memories. With these seven creative marketing ideas, your business can stand out, connect with audiences and make a real impact.

This March, Entrepreneur was proud to celebrate Women’s History Month by spotlighting incredible business leaders and the companies they lead, as well as female trailblazers who helped pave the way.

During our “Real Talk With Inspiring Entrepreneurs” Twitter Spaces session, we were joined by an incredible panel of women business leaders who shared their experiences coming up in their industries and their advice for those aspiring to chase their dreams. Below are some of the takeaways of that session that we hope will inspire current and future entrepreneurs to continue to move the needle for women in business.

Related: See the latest news, trends and advice for women business leaders

Swan Sit

The host of our Twitter Spaces event, Swan Sit, has been dubbed the “Queen of Clubhouse” and is a sought-after advisor and expert on Web3. Swan is a creator and digital strategist known for her foresight and innovation, helping companies at the intersection of corporate economics and consumer attention. Her passion for helping founders and prowess for spotting the next big thing was put on full display as an investor on our TV show Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch. During the session, she encouraged attendees to create the life they’ve always dreamed of, stressing that there is not a single path to success.

Top Takeaway: “The reason I love partnering with Entrepreneur magazine is our shared love of founder journeys, mission to democratize information and opportunity, and belief in the impossible. It was so inspirational to host the conversation with these incredible women! The irony is — I’m not a born entrepreneur. I only found it later in life after I accumulated enough experience and confidence to go out on my own. There is no right way to be an entrepreneur. It can be fractional, later in life, or even inside a corporation. I found my path by continually being curious, challenging the status quo, and pushing incremental change. Eventually, I pushed hard enough that I had to go outside of the corporate life at Nike and Esteé Lauder to create my own world!”

Dr. Diandra Renée

With a Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Science, a law degree, and a DEI in HR Certificate from Cornell University, Dr. Diandra Renée is a force of intelligence and advocacy. Her work spans industries, advocating for racial equity and transforming lives through her nonprofit and podcast initiatives.

Top Takeaway: “My biggest advice to anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur is: do it! If you believe that you are called to do this work, we need you to dream big and make it happen! I would also add:

• Know your why and when times get harder than expected or when people try to convince you out of your dream — remember your why and let that anchor you through.
• Lean towards your fear and take the next step. If you are called to tread your own path and go places that people don’t often go then understand that sometimes fear can arise. Fear is normal and is a signal to pay more attention. So, lean into the fear and take the next step. The journey is one step at a time. Lean into it by applying pressure (intentional force).
• You are supposed to be the only you in the room at that time that you are there. But it is your authenticity that will transform the space so that it is better when people come after you.
• Finally, I would say love what you do and do what you love. Love conquers all. So when the journey becomes challenging, success will be inevitable because you are doing it from a powerful place that can’t be defeated and plus you are anchored in your why.”

Related: Grow Your Business and Strengthen Your Entrepreneurial Mindset — 3 Key Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs

Rabeea Chaudhri

The co-owner of Namkeen, a vibrant Pakistani-American restaurant with locations in New York and New Jersey, is a driving force behind the restaurant’s communication and PR strategies. Rabeea Chaudhri‘s journey in the hospitality industry began with a passion for storytelling and a vision to bridge cultural divides through the universal language of food.

Top Takeaway: “It was such an honor to be surrounded by such talented and successful fellow women. It’s really empowering to see the journeys other women have gone through to get to where they are today. It serves as a reminder to myself and the audience to constantly uplift and empower the women around us. My advice to anyone wanting to follow this journey is to believe in yourself and embrace failure. This journey is far from a perfect one and requires a lot of dedication and perseverance. Understand that failure is a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks, view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Adapt and pivot if necessary, and keep moving forward.”

Bianca Maieli

A DJ/producer from Los Angeles, Bianca Maieli draws inspiration from the city’s diverse sounds and her mixed South Indian and Caribbean Colombian roots. She is also a co-founder of No Nazar, a creative collective making waves in the underground global music scene, breaking barriers and pushing boundaries.

Top Takeaway: “It was great to connect with so many other women making moves in different industries. I was inspired by each of their stories and experiences. For anyone wanting to follow in my footsteps, I would just say just take that first step! Starting is oftentimes the hardest part, but once you get going the momentum will follow and you’ll learn so much along the way. I know it sounds cliche but I truly believe the journey is the destination.”

Related: 5 Trailblazing Black Women Entrepreneurs Share How They’re Breaking Barriers — And How You Can Too

Carolyn Aronson

As the founder and CEO of It’s a 10 Haircare, one of the only female-owned professional hair care brands globally, Carolyn exemplifies entrepreneurship and determination. Her recent ventures include Be A 10 Cosmetics and Rewind It 10, showcasing her commitment to innovation and empowerment in the beauty industry.

Top Takeaway: “Get ready to wear many hats, and don’t let intimidation crumble you. Once you begin your own company, you’ll get a crash course in learning and understanding things you didn’t know would apply to your position. Every day, you should be on a mission to learn and become better—even in categories you’re not used to dealing with. For example, I learned that even if you’re a CEO and have never done financials, you’ll have to look at a balance sheet and tax return and work to identify any errors your accountant may have missed. Now, I’m well versed in this field and much, much more, and I owe it all to learning from those who taught me.”

Follow Entrepreneur on X to be alerted to upcoming Twitter Spaces and live events.

Imagine if you could unlock each team member’s full potential — not by working harder, but by working smarter. What if, instead of trying to mold your team into a one-size-fits-all approach, you could tap into their natural strengths to create a workplace where everyone thrives?

By uncovering your employees’ unique traits, preferences and working styles, you can align their strengths with roles that set them — and your business — up for success. This isn’t just about getting more done; it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels valued, engaged and empowered to contribute their best work.

As the founder of ButterflyMX, an access control company with over 200 employees, I’ve learned how to do this to create teams that operate harmoniously. By leveraging individual strengths, workers are more productive, innovative and collaborative. When leaders take the time to know their people deeper, they build trust, reduce friction and unlock a synergy that transforms good teams into great ones.

Related: 3 Ways to Learn More About Your Team and How They Work

The science of personality types

Tools like Myers-Briggs (MBTI), DiSC or the Big Five personality traits aren’t just trendy buzzwords — they’re backed by decades of research into how personality influences behavior and performance. These frameworks offer a structured way to understand how people think, communicate and problem-solve.

So, why do they work? Personality assessments reveal much more than surface-level traits. They uncover communication preferences (detailed instructions vs. broad guidelines), problem-solving styles (those who dive into data vs. those who trust their instincts) and even work environment preferences (collaboration vs. solitude). With this knowledge, leaders can create an environment where everyone performs at their best.

However, let’s clear up a common misconception: Personality assessments are starting points, not rigid definitions. They’re not about shutting people into boxes but about opening doors. Everyone is unique, and these tools help you start the conversation about better understanding, motivating and supporting your team.

Identifying strengths through personality types

Once you understand personality types, the next step is identifying your team members’ strengths.

Each personality brings unique value to the table:

• Extroverts excel in client-facing roles, brainstorming sessions and group projects. They bring energy and enthusiasm that can galvanize a team.

• Detail-oriented individuals shine in areas like project management and quality assurance, where precision and organization are critical.

• Big-picture thinkers thrive in strategy and innovation, tackling abstract challenges and envisioning long-term goals.

For example, imagine a property management company needing help to meet tight deadlines. A savvy manager noticed that one team member, who loved structure and deadlines, excelled when given detailed project plans. Meanwhile, another, known for creative problem-solving, flourished when tasked with brainstorming solutions to roadblocks.

By aligning these tasks with their natural strengths, the manager boosted efficiency and improved team morale. Identifying strengths isn’t just about improving productivity — it’s about helping people feel seen, valued and capable of achieving their best work.

Related: How Leaders Can Use Myers-Briggs, DISC and FIRO-B Tests to Drive Corporate Culture

Leveraging personality types to maximize team performance

Tailored leadership:

Understanding personality types allows leaders to align tasks with individual preferences. If someone thrives in a structured environment, give them a detailed roadmap. But if they prefer creative freedom, provide a clear objective and let them run with it. By tailoring your leadership style, you ensure every team member feels supported and empowered.

Enhancing collaboration:

When leaders strategically pair teammates with complementary strengths, the results can be transformative. For instance, pairing a visionary with a detail-oriented planner can lead to balanced decision-making and flawless execution. By appreciating differences, you foster collaboration instead of conflict.

Motivation strategies:

Personality insights also help you motivate your team. Does an employee thrive on public recognition? Celebrate their wins in team meetings. Do they prefer quiet acknowledgment? Send them a personalized note of appreciation. When leaders motivate authentically, team members are more engaged and loyal.

The challenges of personality-based leadership

While personality-based leadership offers many benefits, it has its challenges.

• Avoiding pitfalls: Don’t pigeonhole employees into specific roles based solely on their personality type. People are multifaceted, and roles should evolve as their skills grow.

• Balancing strengths and growth: Encourage employees to leverage their strengths while stepping out of their comfort zones. For example, introverts who prefer solitary work can benefit from occasional group projects to build communication skills.

By using personality insights as a guide — not a rulebook — you’ll strike the right balance between leveraging strengths and fostering growth.

Actionable steps for leaders

To integrate personality-based strategies into your leadership style, follow these steps:

1. Choose the right tool: Whether it’s MBTI, DiSC or another framework, pick an assessment that aligns with your organization’s goals.

2. Facilitate open discussions: Share results with your team and invite them to discuss how these insights reflect their working style.

3. Align roles with strengths: Use the insights to assign tasks and responsibilities that fit each team member’s natural abilities.

4. Review and adapt: Reassess periodically. Teams evolve, and your strategies should, too.

Implementing these steps doesn’t require an overhaul — just a willingness to adapt and prioritize your team’s needs.

Related: How to Manage These 6 Different Workplace Personality Types

Your team’s greatest asset isn’t just their skill set; it’s the unique perspectives and energy each individual brings. By taking the time to understand their personality types, you’re not just building a more effective team — you’re creating a workplace where people feel valued, motivated and inspired to do their best.

Explore personality assessments, start the conversation, and watch your team transform into a powerhouse of collaboration, innovation and success.

Running a business often means staying connected no matter where you are, but handing out your personal phone number isn’t always ideal. Instead of lugging around a second bulky smartphone, why not go small? The NanoPhone is a fully functional smartphone about the size of a credit card. It’s a sleek, portable alternative to larger phones, and right now, it’s on sale for $89.97 (regularly $199). Check out now; no need to wait for Black Friday for this sale.

Low-cost, low-impact phone for professionals

The NanoPhone is designed for professionals who need a lightweight, low-cost option that doesn’t skimp on essentials. It’s small enough to fit in almost any pocket yet powerful enough to handle work and personal tasks. With dual SIM support, you can keep your business and personal contacts separate while staying connected with 4G for smooth browsing and uninterrupted communication. Despite its compact size, it delivers crystal-clear voice and video calls, so you’re always reachable.

While its design might remind you of a tiny iPhone, the NanoPhone runs on Android OS and comes equipped with front and rear cameras for snapshots or video meetings on the go. It even supports expandable storage, letting you save important files without a hitch.

If regular smartphones feel like an expensive distraction, the NanoPhone offers a simple, reliable alternative. It keeps you focused and connected, making it the perfect tool for professionals who value efficiency and portability.

Invest in a little convenience.

Skip to checkout if you don’t want to miss your chance to get the NanoPhone on sale for $89.97. Sale ends 11:59 p.m. PT on December 8.

NanoPhone – A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! – $89.97

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

My company, Jotform, was not an overnight success. I didn’t wake up one day to find myself the darling of TechCrunch or attract massive funding rounds from VCs ravenous to get in on the form-building action.

I probably don’t have to tell you that a form-builder is not the world’s sexiest basis for a startup. But that doesn’t bother me one bit. Jotform became successful not because it’s flashy, but because our products work. And I believe they work because my employees and I strive every day to create the best experience for our customers.

Here’s the truth: Success is not about having the best or most original idea. It’s about being resilient. In my case, it was about getting up with the birds and spending time every morning before my full-time job to work on my startup, even when it was cold and dark, and it would have been easier to stay in bed. It was about not quitting when a major tech behemoth released a product similar to the one I was launching. Resilience helped me press on, even when I felt like quitting.

Resilience is an internal fire that keeps glowing, even in adverse conditions. Some people are born with it; others develop it over time. Here’s how to build your own resilience, even if it doesn’t come naturally to you.

Related: 8 Ways Successful People Master Resilience

Stay calm

I’m a proponent of the practical philosophy of Stoicism, the goals of which, as described by the philosopher Epictetus, are “to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals, not under my control, and which have to do with the choice I actually control.”

As a founder, there are so many things you can’t control — the “externals.” Maybe you’ve lost a client, received a bad review or experienced data corruption. These things may feel like the end of the world, but they’re not. The sun will rise again tomorrow.

It’s normal to be upset over a setback, but fretting excessively will only keep you from focusing on the things you do have power over — the “internals.” A huge part of building resilience is learning to set aside the externals and channel your efforts toward managing the internals instead.

I find it helpful to make a list — what are the things I’m worrying about that I can control? What are the things I’m worrying about that I can’t? Fold up the list of external worries and put them in a drawer. Then, move on to the internal list, using an Eisenhower matrix to help prioritize.

Be data-oriented

In times of turmoil, I always look to data. Not only do numbers never lie, but they’re crucial for making informed decisions based on concrete insights about everything from market trends to user habits to operations. I have always been vigilant about tracking our monthly active users — seeing that they’re consistently growing helps quiet the “what ifs” that might otherwise take over.

As important as a gut feeling can be, I strongly believe in making decisions driven by data.

Practice gratitude

It may sound a little woo-woo, but practicing gratitude has proven benefits on both mental and physical health, building a layer of resilience against hardship. Back in 2003, psychologist Robert A. Emmons produced a landmark study that opened the door for research on the myriad effects that a grateful mindset has on our well-being. Researchers have since found that those who experience gratitude in their daily lives have lower levels of depression and sleep better.

“What impresses me are the objective, biologically verifiable outcomes that go beyond self-report measures,” Dr. Emmons told the New York Times.

The best part? Being grateful requires very little time. Experts advise building it into your routine — while you’re brushing your teeth or as you open your laptop to start the day.

Related: I Thought I Was Resilient, Until a Devastating Loss Showed Me Resilience Is Not Something You Just ‘Have’

Keep going

One of the best ways to build resilience is simply to keep moving forward. World War II General George Patton, who led troops through nearly every major American conflict of the 20th century, put it best: “A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.”

At Jotform, we practice a hybrid launch strategy — we continuously improve our products while simultaneously planning big, public releases. For the latter, we strategize carefully — teams have their tasks mapped out before the big day to mitigate stress and unforeseen circumstances.

But even with careful planning, bugs happen. It’s just the reality of a product launch. And you know what? We deal with them. Our development team is notified daily about the open bugs, and we keep a scoreboard in which we handle the oldest tickets first. We even make it a little bit fun, with developers competing to see who can fix the most bugs each week.

No product is going to be perfect, but that doesn’t mean you stop moving forward. Of course, you want your product to be good, and you should do everything in your power to ensure that it is. But striving for an impossible ideal will only slow your momentum.

There are a lot of genius startup ideas that never get off the ground. That’s because the idea itself is only a fraction of what it takes to become successful. Resilience is key. Stay calm, analyze your data, be grateful and most importantly, keep going.

The holidays are upon us, and with the influx of shoppers and time-off requests from employees, this is often the busiest time of the year for businesses. It can be challenging for business owners to balance their sales priorities amidst preparing for the year ahead, but the season of giving also serves as the perfect opportunity for business owners to make a positive impact.

Investing in employees and the local community is a great way to strengthen your business to close out the year, as it can help improve workplace morale, boost customer loyalty and set your business up for success in the new year. As business owners look to get into the holiday spirit, here are a few ways they can give back through their business this season.

Related: 7 Simple Ways to Thank Your Employees This Holiday Season

Invest in your employees

According to the recent Bank of America Women and Minority Business Owner Spotlight, 63% of U.S. business owners are planning to expand their businesses in the year ahead, and more than half plan to hire over the next 12 months. Employees are an essential part of business operations, and it is up to business owners to ensure that their workplace culture and morale are supported during their expansion efforts. Evaluate your business’ existing culture and how employees’ needs are currently being met and prioritized alongside business needs. From there, outline potential strategies to close any gaps.

During the busy holiday season, consider ways to alleviate staff pressures by making small adjustments to scheduling. This can have a large impact for employees, particularly those who are parents and may be balancing childcare during winter breaks from school. Increasing communications, transparent scheduling and offering flexible work options, when possible, can reduce staff stressors significantly.

Beyond operational changes, 83% of business owners are investing in education, according to Bank of America, and recognize the value their employees see in programs like on-site training and mentorship. For employees interested in career growth, professional development opportunities are a great way to strengthen existing talent and increase retention.

Workplace culture programs such as employee resource groups can also reinforce a positive environment for employees — plus fostering a friendly staff improves customer interactions as an added benefit. There are numerous strategies that business owners can implement to improve the workplace; knowing your employees and recognizing their needs is key to ensuring your business is well-staffed and thriving.

Connect to your community

In addition to your employees, it’s important for business owners to appreciate the complementary relationship they have with their communities. When a community supports its local business owners, those businesses thrive, and in turn, they are able to reinvest in the community, provide jobs and boost the local economy. This creates a positive feedback loop of mutual support that’s crucial to the community’s long-term growth.

Business owners can explore various ways to give back to their communities, such as donating to local non-profits, sponsoring community events and programs, and offering resident-specific discounts. Informational workshops, seasonal celebrations and employee volunteer initiatives are just a few examples of how business owners can foster community engagement to help people make personal connections to their business beyond the products or services it offers.

Try to connect and partner with other local businesses as well — not only can collective endorsement boost your presence in the community, but it can offer cost savings that can be reinvested into the business. For example, you could engage in cost-sharing to lower certain expenses for you and your neighboring business owners. Whether you partner to pay for healthcare plans, share supplies and resources or offer discounts for overlapping customers, working with other businesses can be highly rewarding, and the cost savings can help allow each business owner to keep prices fair for its customers.

Related: 4 Ways Your Company Benefits From Giving Back

Give and get back

Investing in your employees and your community is an investment in your business. Today’s consumers appreciate businesses that align with their values, so expressing care for your community is a powerful and mutually beneficial way to enhance brand reputation and increase customer loyalty.

By investing in your community, you can encourage employees to take pride in your company, knowing that it’s creating a positive impact on the community around them. This energy, coupled with enhancements to employee scheduling and training, will set your business up as a best place to work.

As you position your business for success in 2025, consider starting that momentum by supporting and empowering your employees and community. Giving back is a win-win, fostering both internal and external growth for long-term success.

What makes a good leader?

Ask any entrepreneur, and you’re likely to get different (albeit, pretty similar) answers. You might have heard that a good leader is strong, decisive, confident and honest. Or perhaps a “good” leader to you is optimistic, creative and forward-thinking.

After over 20 years as a CEO, I can tell you, my definition of “leader” has evolved over time. Facing challenges, resolving personnel conflicts, making mistakes and overcoming burnout will do that to you. So, while I don’t claim to have the textbook definition of leadership, I can share what I consider to be the essentials when it comes to being a positive, compassionate leader. And I’ve learned that entrepreneurial leadership crosses every sector of business.

Related: 50 Rules for Being a Great Leader

1. Set intentional habits

A leader is someone who is intentional with their habits. Whether you’re part of the “rise and grind” crowd or prefer a more leisurely pace, you’ve given thought to how you manage your day, your health and your business.

As an entrepreneur, my routine is everything — not because I require regimented time blocks, but because, if I didn’t set priorities, what’s important to me would go by the wayside. By setting intentional habits, I know I’ve created time for my physical health, mental health, family and leisure, in addition to the responsibilities of my business.

Without intention, we are at risk of falling victim to bad habits. Distraction and avoidance become our downfall. A great leader knows their priorities, directs energy to the activities likely to have the greatest impact and manages their time, not the other way around.

2. Practice radical honesty

I first learned about radical honesty in Brad Blanton’s book. And at the start, I really struggled with it. I realized how often I used “little white lie” excuses to ease my discomfort and avoid conflict. But this wasn’t doing me or my team any favors.

Through practice, I learned that radical honesty is about prioritizing transparency even when it’s uncomfortable. This doesn’t mean being brutally honest (you can tell the truth without hurting others), but keeping with open communication and vulnerability. Radical honesty leads to better conflict resolution and further refinement of your character as a leader. It also builds trust with your team.

Many business owners believe that you need to be direct or even harsh to be effective. In reality, a great leader speaks the truth with compassion, while seeking to understand the perspectives of those around them. To me, radical honesty is essential if you want to resolve conflict the right way, not the easy way.

Related: Stop Lying to Your Team — And Yourself. Try Radical Honesty Instead.

3. Generosity over personal gain

As business owners, many of us are drawn by the appeal of financial gain. And while this is not inherently bad, setting your tunnel vision on profit alone can make you blind to the more personally lucrative and soul-giving opportunities.

I truly believe that what you give is returned to you in dividends, not always as financial rewards but as personal development, friendships and life experiences. A great leader understands that generosity is more important and impactful than financial earnings alone.

Give to your community, your team, your friends and your family. Whether that’s through service, donations, sharing knowledge or providing career advancement, you’ll feel a stronger sense of purpose than being a profit-first entrepreneur.

4. Tackle challenges with compassion

A leader is someone who does not shy away from challenges. At the same time, a leader does not tackle challenges with aggressive tenacity, but a compassionate, thoughtful approach that considers multiple factors and points of view. Resolving conflicts in this way is difficult, but that is the measure of an intentional, self-aware leader.

For one, a great leader does not bulldoze other people’s perspectives. They take the time to listen to input, consider the information and proceed with what’s right for the organization as a whole. Sometimes, it means knowing when to say “no” — even to yourself.

At the same time, a leader does not beat themselves up for past failures. They consider each challenge to be an opportunity to learn, overcome and grow. It’s much more productive to channel optimistic energy into furniture endeavors than to fixate on the past.

Leadership means having compassion for others and yourself, even when making decisions is difficult and mistakes are inevitable.

Related: 5 Common Personnel Problems and How to Address Them

5. Know your limits

A leader is not infallible. You have skills, but you also have limits. A great leader can recognize the aptitudes in others and know when to step away from activities that no longer serve them.

This does not mean delegating just for the sake of lightening your workload but knowing your limits and identifying your complement in others. Very often, there are people in your mindset ready and able to step up and prove their chops.

As a CEO, I needed to find my “no person.” This is the person who tells me when I’ve gotten in my own way and when it’s time to assign responsibility to more equipped team members. He prevents me from getting pulled into the weeds rather than focusing on the priorities that matter most for my company at a high level.

A leader knows what they’re good at, what they’re not so good at and when it’s time to allow space for others to step in.

Every leader is different. And while the essentials of honesty, integrity and team management come into play, the exact skills will vary from one person to the next. I encourage every entrepreneur to explore their leadership style and define their own “essentials” — the non-negotiables, if you will. Recognize that these may shift over time, but leading with intention is always the path forward to maximizing your impact.

AI could transform healthcare, the workplace, filmmaking and education — but its power could also be destructive in the wrong hands.

Google’s former CEO Eric Schmidt elaborated on the risks of AI in a Monday episode of The Prof G Pod podcast with NYU professor, entrepreneur and author Scott Galloway. Though Schmidt highlighted that AI improves productivity for nearly everyone, he also acknowledged that the technology could be used to hurt human beings in the future.

“The most obvious one is their use in biology,” Schmidt stated. “Can these systems, at some point in the future, generate biological pathogens that could harm many, many, many, many humans?”

Related: Worried About AI Stealing Your Job? A New Report Calls These 10 Careers ‘AI-Proof’

Today they can’t, but there are “a lot of people” who believe that AI will be able to create harmful biological materials in the future, per Schmidt. These people are working on preventing AI from being used as a biological weapon, he said.

^{Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Photo by Shahar Azran/Getty Images}

Schmidt also pointed out that AI opens the door to widespread cyberattacks that could take down the entire financial system of a country, for example.

“[AI] systems are so powerful that we are quite concerned that in addition to democracies using them for gains, dictators will use them to aggregate power,” Schmidt stated.

Schmidt was Google’s CEO from 2001 to 2011. In August, he made headlines for stating that remote work was the reason Google fell behind the AI race at a Stanford University talk. He later apologized for misspeaking; Stanford took down the video of the talk, which garnered over 40,000 views in less than a day.

Schmidt isn’t the only executive raising concerns about AI. Sahil Agarwal, a Yale PhD in applied mathematics who co-founded and currently runs AI safety startup Enkrypt, told Entrepreneur earlier this year that as AI systems get more complex, the possibility that they contain implicit bias and toxic content also increases.

Related: Ex-Google CEO Says the Company Fell Behind AI Rivals Because of Remote Work. Now He’s Taking It Back.