Early on in elementary school, Maria Washington’s son was struggling to sit still and pay attention. “His teachers wrote him off,” she says. “They said he’s not capable of this, or this, or this. They were telling me he wouldn’t amount to anything.”

But the Washington family disagreed. Maria’s husband, Aaron — her son’s stepfather, and a former adjunct chemistry professor at the University of South Carolina — started tutoring the boy. They soon discovered that he learned better with visual prompts, so they tailored a plan to his needs. By the end of fifth grade, “My son’s teacher said he should move into general education classes,” Maria says. “He finished with all A’s.”

So when the Washingtons decided to start a business, it was Aaron’s success with tutoring Maria’s son that drew them toward the education franchise Tutor Doctor. “We thought we could duplicate our experience for other families,” Maria says. Their location in Evans, South Carolina, opened in 2022, and served just 37 clients their first year. In 2023, they were up to 195 clients and had tripled their revenue. Here, Washington talks about tapping into government resources and the unmet needs of her community.

Related: She Worked Hard to Become An Engineer, and Didn’t Want Her Degree to Go to Waste. Then She Found a Franchise That Was the Best of Both Worlds.

How did you triple your business between year one and year two?

In year one, the focus was on the individual families and learning more about the Tutor Doctor model. I’d also just had a newborn and was learning to juggle an infant and the business. But my husband had spoken with someone who mentioned there was federal money out there that schools had access to, through the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS)program. So I registered our business as an EANS provider in South Carolina and at least seven other states, so we could gain visibility with the schools.

Then in January 2023, I received a call from a private school that enrolled about 50 students for services. I had another school reach out over the summer to request one-on-one tutoring for about 30 students. Establishing partnerships with schools is what really got us the growth.

When you scaled up that fast, what challenges did you encounter?

The main challenge was recruiting high-quality tutors. I had to become more selective. I asked more behavioral interviewing questions, which was a game changer. My process now includes an interview with a dedicated tutor recruiter and then 45 minutes with me to review a PowerPoint presentation that I designed to ensure all applicants understand the requirements of this position and the impact we intend to have on our families.

How has owning a franchise impacted your life?

I have the flexibility to design my schedule. I can take my kids to doctors’ appointments. I can have lunch with my first-grader at school. I can take off to go see my son’s swim team. I don’t have to miss these key events. Then I can come home and work from 10 o’clock to midnight to get payroll processed.

What other areas of potential growth do you see for the business?

We want to offer tutoring services as an HR benefit for large companies. Everyone has kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews. Maybe the company pays 50% and the family pays 50%. I realize it’s something that hasn’t been done before, but I like to do new things. If we can get a larger company to offer tutoring support as an HR benefit, that would be massive.

And your son? How is he doing?

He’s in eighth grade, and he had five A’s and two B’s — and two of the courses were high school credit courses. He is now an independent learner. That’s our goal with all our families. A lot of our success stories no longer need tutoring.

Related: The Role and Responsibilities of a Franchisee, Defined

Talk about a Philly special.

While some business leaders push for a four-day workweek or enact hybrid office shifts following a change in workplace preferences after the pandemic, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has doubled down on the traditional — by requiring all 26,000 city workers to return to the office five days a week, effective Monday.

Related: This Country Just Implemented a 6-Day Workweek for Employees

The new ordinance was signed on Friday by Judge Sierra Thomas Street. Unions in the city pushed to delay the new mandate but were met with opposition.

It’s estimated that 80% of Philadelphia city workers are already working on-site five days a week.

“July 15th, in the middle of the summer, people are scrambling, trying to find childcare, trying to find summer camps,” April Gigetts, president of District Council 47 in Philadelphia, told NPR.

Parker claimed that the decision was made for the city of Philadelphia and its government to “create a more visible and accessible government, a city government that our residents can see, touch and feel.”

Chief Administration Officer for Philadelphia, Camille Duchaussee, said that the decision was not made due to lack of productivity, but rather based on an overarching “leadership” strategy.

“We want to ensure that we continue to build on the culture and experience that’s positive in the workplace,” Duchaussee said, in a statement. “We understand that work from home is something that our employees were taking part in, but we all have a shared purpose and our workforce is committed to the shared purpose.”

Philadelphia is the first major U.S. city to enact such a mandate.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wage for a city worker is $22.84.

Related: Philadelphia Eagles Christmas Album No. 2 Behind Taylor Swift

Philly isn’t alone in cracking down on working time frames for city employees.

Earlier this month, Greece enacted a mandate that required a six-day workweek for employees working for private business and manufacturing plants that operate 24 hours a day, including certain retail and agricultural workers.

True story: Recently, my daughter was at a major brand car dealership with her boyfriend, intending to purchase a pre-owned car. Note I made up the numbers for the sake of my daughter’s financial privacy, but the takeaways are still the same.

The dealership asked for, let’s say, $26,000 “all in” for the car, but my daughter had already decided that $20,000 was the most she would pay. There was a lot of ground to cover to actually make a deal happen. After some discussion, the salesperson did his best, dropping the price to $25,000. But that still left a big gap, so he told her, “Let me go check with my manager and see if he has any ideas.”

After five minutes, the salesperson and his manager entered the room together. The manager explained that at $25,000, this was a great price; it was already well below their MSRP, and the deal was “very thin” as it was for him. He then used the famous line, “Okay, here’s what I’m going to do to get you into this car today.” The manager pulled out a piece of paper with revised numbers that showed his price now at $23,995. He explained to my daughter that this was the absolute best possible price. He was “all in;” this was his “best offer,” and he told her to take it or leave it. For the grand finale — keeping in mind that this is a 100% true story — the manager took out a big red ink stamp and smacked it down on the paper. The stamp read “FINAL” in bold red ink. $23,995. FINAL.

My daughter responded, “Thanks, but I’m sorry; it looks like it’s not going to work out.” Without hesitation, he immediately blurted out, “How about $22,500?”

When my daughter told me the story, I had a wonderful laugh. After the big show, the manager held his price for a full six seconds. And the idea of the red final stamp just made the story even better. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized there’s actually quite a lot to unpack here regarding sales tactics, psychology and effectiveness.

Related: 3 Unconventional Sales Tactics That Will Close More Deals

I’m not in the car business, and I’ve never sold cars, but I can see some familiar sales tactics (and mistakes) playing out here:

Playing the waiting game

All this went down after my daughter had spent hours on the lot. It was getting late in the day on a Saturday, and the manager knew she was hoping to get it done. At some level, the manager was wearing her down and playing out the clock, playing the “waiting game.” It didn’t work in this case, but often, this notion of using time as a weapon can be very effective. Utilizing time as a strategic element in the negotiation process can be effective, but it must be used carefully and respectfully. Pushing too hard on time constraints can backfire.

Closing the deal by changing the sales lineup

When the salesperson reached his personal negotiation line or felt he would lose her, he brought in his manager. In addition to adding some time to the clock, this step created a new opportunity for a new dynamic. The dealership never really wants a potential buyer to walk out the door, so if one person doesn’t get the job done, it’s always worth trying someone else. Involving a manager or company administrator in the negotiation process can create new dynamics and opportunities for closing a deal.

Proposing your best and final offer

Although I laughed hysterically when I heard about the red stamp, I soon realized it was actually a smart move. Once upon a time, I’m guessing some sales and marketing people sat in a room, and someone said, “I have an idea — let’s make a red stamp that says final and use that during negotiations.” Everyone probably laughed, and they would have said, “No, I’m serious!” And then everyone thought about it and agreed, as funny of an idea as it was, it actually made sense. It’s one thing to tell someone something verbally, but when it’s “official” and in red ink on paper, it’s human nature to believe it and take it as indisputable. Using psychological sales tactics to create a Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) effect, such as a “Final Offer” stamp, can be effective in conveying seriousness and finality, but you have to honor your word, or you will likely lose credibility.

All the tactics I outlined above were smart, but here’s where I think the dealership dropped the ball:

Trying a shutdown move too soon

The manager came in cold, and rather than take some time (again, time is on their side) to talk about the value, create some alignment, and build some rapport, he went straight for the kill. That tactic may work, but I felt it was too aggressive. He would have been better off discussing the pain points and goals concerning the product, coming up with some extra incentives, etc. Understanding the customer’s needs, discussing the product’s value and building rapport and trust can be crucial in successful sales.

Related: How to Master Your Sales Success — Why Every Answer and Rejection Matters

Putting an out-of-reach offer on the table

The manager decided to go for the close in a fairly aggressive way. In some cases, that tactic makes sense. But he played it all wrong with the numbers. He knew they were a full $5,000 or 20% off, and he decided to put it all on the line at $23,995. Obviously, given how fast he dropped another thousand, he had plenty more room. If he was going for the hard close and “FINAL” offer, he should have made it more compelling. By putting on the big show and then immediately dropping his price, he completely lost credibility and lowered the odds of closing. In this case, he lost my daughter’s trust and the sale. In negotiation, it’s important to understand the other party’s budget and limits before making an offer. Being aware of their constraints will increase the likelihood of closing a deal.

Saying your offer is “final” when it’s not

If you offer something of value at a good price and tell them it’s “final” (which I personally don’t recommend as a sales tactic), then stand by it and mean it. Your word has to mean something. Once he realized his “final” price was not going to work, rather than lower it, he could have thrown in some additional valuable incentive, perhaps some amount of free service or some kind of special financing. If a “final offer” is presented, standing by it as your final word is essential. If adjustments are needed, they should include additional incentives or value to maintain trust and credibility.

Sales is an art, no doubt about that. A great salesperson builds a relationship, asks questions and listens, understands the client’s pain points, is honest and transparent, and operates with integrity. Of course, strategies, techniques, incentives, and a lot of human emotion and psychology are at play, but all of them can happen successfully without losing your credibility.

So, the overall moral of my story? Choose wisely before using the big red stamp!

This Side Hustle Spotlight Q&A features Victoria Carroll, a U.S.-based professional voice actor who created a full-time career with the freelance service platform Fiverr.

^{Image Credit: Courtesy of Fiverr. Victoria Carroll.}

What was your day job (or other sources of income) when you started your side hustle?
I was living abroad in the Czech Republic and working as an actress and filmmaker before I did voiceover work, but my income was always low (and sporadic), so I mainly supplemented it by teaching preschool. I did all sorts of things before becoming a full-time freelancer, though — I was a Disney princess, a promotional model for brands, I gave English lessons to Czech students…you name it!

Related: This Mom Started a Side Hustle on Facebook — Now It Averages $14,000 a Month and She Can ‘Work From a Resort in the Maldives’

When did you start your side hustle, and where did you find the inspiration for it?
I joined Fiverr, which is a platform for freelancers of all kinds, in 2018, which I fully credit for my current career. I had just finished my first large voice acting and motion capture project for a videogame (Kingdom Come: Deliverance) that was becoming quite popular and generating a ton of buzz, but I was still living paycheck to paycheck. A friend suggested I pursue voice-over more seriously and mentioned that they had just hired a voice actor through the site. I was really excited to give freelancing a shot. The prospect of being able to work from anywhere in the world and create my own schedule — especially in my field, which demanded a lot of flexibility for auditions and filming schedules — was really exciting.

What were some of the first steps you took to get your side hustle off the ground?
My first step was setting up a professional home recording studio. I bought a fancy microphone and soundproofing gear. From there, I did research on what clients were looking for in a recording artist and how to best set up my profile on Fiverr. This included creating videos and voice reels of my work, writing a good bio and figuring out how to best communicate project details to meet client’s needs.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while building your side hustle, and how did you navigate them?
I poured everything into building my career as a freelancer, meaning I often worked seven days a week. Sometimes my days were 14-plus hours long, too — and I spent the majority of those hours in a small, dark home recording studio. I also worked holidays, and although I saw success with all the time and effort I put in, I definitely got burnt out. After about a year or so of bending over backward to accommodate dozens of clients a day, I began to set clearer boundaries on when and where I was available and for what price. I have a rule about not working on Sundays now — and I try to avoid weekends in general if I can. I’ve also set stronger requirements for what types of projects I’m willing to take on and for what rates.

Related: This 26-Year-Old’s Side Hustle That ‘Anybody Can Do’ Grew to Earn $170,000 a Month. Here’s What Happened When I Tested It.

How long did it take you to see consistent monthly revenue? How much did the side hustle earn?
I hardly saw any revenue for the first six months. Then, I began to make around $1,000-2,000 a month on average, and it slowly increased from there. By my second full year on Fiverr, I made around $70,000 — the most I had made…ever!

What does growth and revenue look like now?
Since I started, I’ve been lucky enough to almost double my monthly earnings each year. Through Fiverr alone, I’m currently able to pull in around $250,000 a year.

You’ve turned your work on Fiverr into a full-time business. What do you enjoy most about this career?
I think time is our most precious and valuable resource, so having the freedom to make my own schedule is by far my favorite thing about this career. I never did well with jobs that required me to show up at the same place every day for several hours a day. Fiverr is incredible from a time-saving perspective because the catalog of your past work is displayed on the site, along with thousands of honest reviews from previous clients to establish trust, so you’re not wasting time auditioning for jobs or seeking out gigs — the work comes to you. It’s fun to wake up each day and see what new jobs I’ll be taking on; it keeps things fresh. It’s also nice not having a boss to answer to! I’m fully in charge of how my business operates.

Last year, I was able to fund and complete my first feature film (a documentary on a shaman that’s coming out this year), which included traveling to Peru to shoot, edit and post-produce the project. I also got married and pregnant — all while working “full-time”!

So, as a filmmaker and new mom, my freedom is absolutely priceless.

Related: This Former Flight Attendant and Her Roommate Started a Side Hustle With Just $2,000 Each. Then It Earned Them Nearly $600,000 — and Counting.

What’s your advice for others hoping to start successful side hustles of their own?
Be prepared to sacrifice a large amount of time and effort in the beginning to establish yourself. When I speak to other freelancers about how they got started, they usually say the same thing. I don’t think there’s a shortcut for that. In the beginning, I worked long hours for low pay. But I was able to pay my dues, build up a huge portfolio and forge nice, long-term relationships with brands and companies. If you make that investment by building up a portfolio and client base in the beginning, it will pay off when you’re established.

The cannabis industry has experienced exponential growth over recent years, with Verano emerging as a leading player. Verano operates in 13 states with over 140 locations and posted revenue of $938 million in 2023. George Archos, the founder and CEO of Verano, shares his journey and insights on building a successful cannabis company, emphasizing the importance of culture, adaptability, and community impact.

Archos was drawn to the cannabis industry by the potential benefits of the plant. He was influenced by a family member with multiple sclerosis, which motivated him to pursue a cultivation license in Illinois. Archos highlights the importance of building a company that does good for people, saying, “I always loved the opportunity to do something good for people, and this was an opportunity to do it in my home state.”

Related: Jon Bon Jovi and His Son Jesse Want You to Play ‘Pink Pong’ With Their Top-Rated Rosé This Summer. You Game?

One of the keys to Verano’s success is its strong focus on culture and hospitality. With a background in the restaurant industry, Archos emphasized the importance of a welcoming environment and excellent customer service. “Training and creating that family vibe is very important to us and then providing them a great product,” he explains. This approach has been instrumental in building a loyal customer base and a dedicated team of roughly 4,000 employees.

However, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Going public was a significant milestone for Verano, but it came with its own set of difficulties. Archos admitted that managing a public company involves more time on investor relations and less on-ground operations, which he enjoys. He shares, “Once you go public, unfortunately, you have to step away from that a little bit and spend a little bit more time on investor relations and traveling.” Despite these challenges, Archos has adapted and now sees the benefits of the increased exposure and learning experiences that come with being a public company.

Related: A Look Inside the Company That Is Making $500 Million a Year Serving Italian Beef Sandwiches Made Famous by ‘The Bear’

Archos’s advice to fellow entrepreneurs is straightforward: make decisions and learn from them. He stresses the importance of trusting one’s gut and not being afraid to pivot if needed. “You have to make that decision. You have to trust yourself and you have to move forward,” he advises. This mindset has helped Verano navigate the volatile cannabis market and position itself for future growth. Looking ahead, Archos envisions continued success for Verano, driven by a commitment to quality, community, and innovation.

Watch all episodes of The CEO Series here

Business leaders and CEOs are voicing well wishes for former President Donald Trump following the attempt on his life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, which claimed the life of one spectator and injured two others.

Before Trump announced Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his VP pick on Monday, public figures and tech leaders including Mark Cuban, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk condemned the violence, and, in some cases, even endorsed the presidential candidate.

Related: Mark Cuban Warns About Fake Fundraisers on Social Media After Assassination Attempt: ‘Makes Things Worse’

Here are how CEOs and business leaders reacted to the weekend’s events.

Mark Zuckerberg

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took to Threads to pen a message calling for a “quick recovery” for Trump, saying that Saturday was a “sad day” for America and noted that “political violence undermines democracy.”

Zuckerberg is not affiliated with any political party, though a 2019 Time report found that the billionaire was quietly recommending potential hires to now-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign team.

Jeff Bezos

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos praised Trump on X for his “tremendous grace and courage” and mourned the other victims of the violence along with their families.

Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight. So thankful for his safety and so sad for the victims and their families.

— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) July 14, 2024

Bezos has previously donated to both Democratic and Republican candidates and organizations, including former President Barack Obama and former President Donald Trump. He has yet to endorse a candidate for the 2024 election.

He is also the owner of The Washington Post.

Tim Cook

The Apple CEO strongly condemned the violence and said that he hoped Trump would have a “rapid recovery.”

I pray for President Trump’s rapid recovery. My thoughts are with him, the other victims and the Trump family. I strongly condemn this violence.

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 14, 2024

Cook and Trump met a number of times during Trump’s presidency, particularly during Washington’s trade war with Beijing, China, a place where Apple produces much of its product base.

“I feel very strongly about engaging with people regardless of whether they agree with you or not,” Cook told GQ last April regarding his meetings with the former president. “I actually think it’s even more important to engage when there’s disagreement.”

Brian Chesky

The Airbnb CEO shared on X that he was “horrified” by the attempted assassination and said that he was “thankful” for Trump’s safety.

I’m horrified by today’s political violence, and I’m thankful President Trump wasn’t seriously injured. My thoughts are with him and his family.

— Brian Chesky (@bchesky) July 14, 2024

Chesky expressed criticism over Trump’s desire to build a wall between Mexico and the U.S. at a 2016 panel at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2022, he donated $100 million to the Obama Foundation.

Related: Elon Musk Endorses Trump, Says ‘Dangerous Times Ahead’

“Anyone who tries to put up barriers against culture is going to be on the wrong side of history,” Chesky said at the time.

Mark Cuban

Cuban took to X in a series of posts that thanked the U.S. Secret Service for their actions.

Let’s just hope the former President is Ok and no one else was injured.

And let’s hope they catch the idiot who did this. This is not the way

And thank you to the Secret Service who put themselves in harms way to protect the former President

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 13, 2024

Cuban also took the opportunity to warn his followers about potential grifters and scammers who may take advantage of the tragedy to steal funds through fake fundraisers that claim to raise money for victims.

I know some people may say it’s not the right time to share this. But, I don’t think anyone disagrees that there are a lot of bots and fake accounts on social media.

When tragedy and horrific events like the assassination attempt on former President Trump happens, it brings… https://t.co/DgiOd0r6Y8

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) July 14, 2024

Cuban has often been critical of Trump and has made it clear that he is not endorsing him for President.

“I’m no supporter of Trump,” Cuban said in a March 2024 post on X. “That’s for damn sure.”

Elon Musk

Elon Musk formally endorsed Trump for President following the shooting on Saturday, just one day after a Bloomberg report revealed that Musk had donated to Trump’s 2024 campaign.

I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024

Apple entered the AI game last month with Apple Intelligence, a suite of new features designed to bring AI straight to iPhone, iPad, and Mac screens. Apple’s AI has a catch though: it only works on the newest iPhones and it could be the reason why millions of iPhone users with older models seriously think about upgrading, say Morgan Stanley analysts.

Morgan Stanley analysts named Apple a top-pick stock on Monday, after which Apple shares jumped to an all-time high, per Bloomberg. Apple Intelligence is a “clear catalyst” for iPhone upgrades and will enable Apple to sell nearly half a billion iPhones in the next two years, analyst Eric Woodring stated.

Apple Intelligence is expected to come out this fall for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max — older iPhones will not have access to Apple’s AI. The update offers AI-generated emojis, a smarter Siri, and direct access to ChatGPT, though some anticipated Siri AI upgrades may arrive next year.

Related: Apple Is Expanding What The iPhone Can Do. Here’s What’s Changing Right Away.

“We believe that there is record level of pent-up demand entering the iPhone 16 cycle later this year,” Woodring noted, adding that Apple Intelligence delivers “unique-to-the-Apple-ecosystem” value.

Morgan Stanley previously forecasted that Apple would sell around 230 million iPhones in the same time frame, making the new prediction more than double the previous one.

Apple is also uniquely positioned to be the AI “base camp” for its customers, “just as it has done for digital content (iPod) and social media (iPhone),” wrote Morgan Stanley analyst Ananda Baruah.

^{Apple CEO Tim Cook waves to customers before they enter Apple’s 5th Avenue store. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)}

Other analysts at different firms have made similar predictions. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives told Reuters in June that more than 15% of existing iPhone users could buy the new iPhone Apple is expected to release this fall.

Related: Apple Labels These 3 Iconic Products ‘Vintage,’ and Soon-to-Be ‘Obsolete’

Ives estimated that 270 million iPhone users have not bought a new model in the past four years.

More than half of Apple’s overall revenue in the second quarter of 2024 came from iPhones; Apple has the majority of the market share for smartphones in the U.S.

At the time of writing, Apple was the largest company in the world with a $3.584 trillion market cap. Microsoft, Nvidia, Google, and Amazon followed.

Related: Warren Buffett Had to Work From His iPhone After Telephone Lines Went Down at Berkshire Hathaway: ‘I’m Glad We Didn’t Sell All of Our Apple’

Shortly after former President Donald was pulled off stage by Secret Service agents after a failed assassination attempt on Saturday, Elon Musk posted his support on X, stating: “I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery.”

I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery pic.twitter.com/ZdxkF63EqF

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 13, 2024

The official endorsement follows Musk contributing to a pro-Trump political action committee, per Bloomberg.

While not entirely unexpected if you have been following most recent Musk’s posts about politics and business, this does come as a notable shift given that he was once an outspoken supporter of Democratic candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden.

Related: Mark Cuban Warns About Fake Fundraisers on Social Media After Assassination Attempt: ‘Makes Things Worse’

Beyond the political, cultural, and business implications of his support, the Tesla CEO also raised alarms regarding personal security threats, stating that there have been two attempts on his life since he moved the company from California to Texas.

Dangerous times ahead.

Two people (separate occasions) have already tried to kill me in the past 8 months. They were arrested with guns about 20 mins drive from Tesla HQ in Texas.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2024

Read more at Wall Street Journal

World Environment Day, the United Nations’ day to promote awareness of the environment and encourage action, recently took place and is a good reminder of how important it is for companies of all sizes to assess their environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and sustainability efforts. Awareness and action however are evergreen. Recent statistics show sustainability matters more than ever to consumers and employees; nearly 70% of workers said they would be more likely to accept a job at an organization considered to be environmentally sustainable, even if it meant a lower salary.

It’s important for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to keep these statistics in mind, because not only can a business’ sustainability efforts attract top talent, but they can also have financial benefits for the company. For example, investing in quality tech products that can be easily repaired and upgraded helps to extend the product lifespan and build a more sustainable tech industry, saving money that would otherwise be spent on new devices.

I’ve always believed sustainability is all about finding solutions with a meaningful long-term impact and how we can work together towards a better tomorrow. Fortunately, sustainability is at the core of what we’re doing at Lenovo. Not only have we developed plastic-free packaging for many of our products, but we’ve also taken important steps to help customers improve their carbon footprint. We recently launched Lenovo’s Intelligent Sustainability Solutions Advisor (LISSA), an AI-powered sustainability engine that gives customers actionable insights to understand the estimated emissions impact across their IT lifecycle and deploy customized solutions that align with their sustainability goals.

Lenovo is also committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with science-based targets validated through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard.

Here are three essential ways your SMB can integrate sustainability throughout the business.

Related: 6 Ways to Build Sustainable Principles Into Your Business

1. Reduce, reuse, repair

Waste from electronic devices is often overlooked, but it’s a huge problem and increasing. According to the United Nations, around 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste are produced every year worldwide.

That’s why the phrase “reduce, reuse, repair” should be top of mind for all SMBs that want to be more sustainable.

One way to reduce waste is to implement circular practices for electronic devices within your business. Part of this means embracing practices that prioritize product longevity and repairability.

Invest in quality tech products and laptops that are designed to be easily repaired and upgraded, thereby extending their lifespan. Look for repair-friendly technology that has easily replaceable parts for your employees. Employees will be able to quickly DIY their repairs, reducing the downtime they would normally spend waiting for support.

2. The power of packaging

Business owners often overlook the role packaging plays in their sustainability practices, but it’s a serious issue. Worldwide e-commerce used approximately 2.1 billion pounds of plastic packaging in 2019, and this number is projected to more than double to 4.5 billion pounds by 2025. This means sustainable packaging is extremely important not only for the products companies sell, but also for the devices they choose to purchase.

When possible, SMB owners should purchase products that use recycled, renewable and bio-based materials. For example, bamboo and sugarcane fiber are great alternative options to traditional packaging because they are made with 100% renewable materials. So, looking for partners and vendors that focus on reducing packaging consumption and promotes an ecosystem of more sustainable practices and solutions.

SMBs that sell physical products should take similar steps to ensure that they are not producing excess waste through their packing and shipping processes by ensuring they are sustainably made and recyclable. Highlighting sustainable packaging is not only beneficial to the environment, but will also resonate with environmentally conscious consumers, and could have a positive financial impact for your brand. Recent surveys, including those conducted by IBM with NRF and the Baker Retailing Center at the University of Pennsylvania, found between half to two-thirds of consumers say they will pay more for sustainable products; for consumers ages 18 to 34, the number jumps to 80%, according to a Business of Sustainability Index report.

Related: How Your Business Can Unpack and Prioritize Sustainability Through Recycling

3. Invest in the future

Sustainability can be further integrated into your business by investing in the future, which could include activities such as exploring avenues for recycling, limiting energy consumption, and supporting sustainable charities or initiatives. For example, investing in tech products that have a long battery life reduces energy consumption and e-waste. Plus, working with organizations like the Global Electronics Counsel, which promotes the purchase of sustainable technology, could have long-term benefits.

Adopting energy-efficient practices, participating in recycling programs and supporting sustainable causes not only contributes to a positive corporate image but also nurtures a sense of responsibility among employees and customers. By investing in the future, your SMB can actively participate in developing a more sustainable tech industry.

World Environment Day serves as a good reminder for SMBs to reflect on the ways they can play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable future for all, but businesses should remember that environmental awareness isn’t just one day.

E-waste is an issue that is not going away anytime soon and is a significant environmental concern, so remembering to “reduce, reuse, repair” (and also recycle) can help make the tech industry more environmentally friendly. Prioritizing sustainability is not just a trend; it is a fundamental facet of your business that can attract top talent, foster better financial decisions and perhaps most importantly, have a positive impact on our planet.

AT&T revealed on Friday that a massive data hack, originally exposed in April, may have been worse than previously thought.

The call and text logs of “nearly all” of its cellular customers have been exposed in the breach.

“In April, AT&T learned that customer data was illegally downloaded from our workspace on a third-party cloud platform,” the company said in a statement. “We launched an investigation and engaged leading cybersecurity experts to understand the nature and scope of the criminal activity. We have taken steps to close off the illegal access point.”

The compromised data includes files containing AT&T records of calls and texts of “nearly all” of AT&T’s cellular customers from May 1, 2022 – October 31, 2022. Per CNN, at the end of 2022, AT&T had 110 million wireless subscribers.

The company said the data “does not contain the content of calls or texts, personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information.”

“At this time, we do not believe that the data is publicly available,” AT&T said in the statement. “We are working with law enforcement in its efforts to arrest those involved in the incident. We understand that at least one person has been apprehended.”

Customers can visit att.com/DataIncident for more information.

^{[Original story below from 4/1/2024]}

Current and former AT&T customers beware.

The mobile and internet service provider confirmed over the weekend the company suffered from a massive data breach that may have leaked the personal information of an estimated 7.6 million current AT&T customers and 65.4 million former customers, totaling 73 million users affected.

AT&T said that, roughly two weeks ago, the data set was leaked to the “dark web.” It’s unclear if the leak originated from AT&T or a third-party vendor.

Related: ‘I Want a Free Month’: Thousands of Customers Furious at AT&T After Widespread Outages

Compromised data may include social security numbers, full names, phone numbers, AT&T account information (numbers and passcodes), and email and mailing addresses.

“Currently, AT&T does not have evidence of unauthorized access to its systems resulting in exfiltration of the data set. The company is communicating proactively with those impacted and will be offering credit monitoring at our expense where applicable,” the company said in a release. “As of today, this incident has not had a material impact on AT&T’s operations.”

The company also clarified that the data “appears” to be from accounts created in 2019 or earlier.

News of the leak was originally posted on X by tech account @vx-underground on March 17, which claimed that “the stolen data is legitimate” and was leaked onto dark web platform Breached.

Today 70,000,000+ records from an unspecified division of AT&T were leaked onto Breached. No information is available to indicate whether it is a 3rd party compromise, or which ‘division’ this data is from.

Regardless, upon review, we can confirm the stolen data is legitimate.

— vx-underground (@vxunderground) March 17, 2024

Earlier this year, in February, AT&T suffered a mass outage that affected roughly 75% of the company’s total customers. CEO John Stankey confirmed that customers who were “most affected” by the service disruption will receive a $5 credit to their account.

Related: Maine Hacked in Data Breach, 1.3 Million Residents At Risk

“Moments like these are a test of resilience,” Stankey wrote at the time in an internal memo. “This is not our first network outage, and it won’t be our last – unfortunately, it’s the reality of our business. What matters most is how we react, adapt, and improve to deliver the service our customers need and expect.”

AT&T was down over 10.5% year over year as of Monday morning.