6 Video Formats That Will Boost Your Business’s Visibility

6 Video Formats That Will Boost Your Business’s Visibility


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In today’s digital world, video content has become a key element for businesses trying to boost their online visibility and engage with their audience. Whether it’s a 15-second social media clip or an extensive podcast, the right video format can be a game-changer for your brand’s online presence.

However, not all video formats are suitable for every business. Understanding which formats align with your goals — and ensuring your team is skilled in video creation and editing — is key to leveraging their full potential.

At Miracamp, we have experienced this growing need among business owners to train their teams to master content creation and marketing. We had to adapt our curriculum to answer these needs — to cover the different types of videos that are relevant for the different types of businesses.

Here are six video formats you should consider to maximize your business visibility online organically.

Related: Marketing With Video: The Definitive Guide

1. Podcasts

Main platforms: YouTube

Podcasts, which were once primarily audio-based, are now performing even better in video formats. Adding a visual element to your podcast not only boosts engagement on platforms like YouTube but also enables you to repurpose clips for social media. The conversational tone of podcasts is perfect for showcasing expertise, interviewing industry leaders and sharing behind-the-scenes stories, making you and your content more relatable to viewers.

To create compelling podcast videos, ensure you have a professional video setup and high-quality audio that complement the content. For businesses in knowledge-heavy industries — such as tech, finance or education — podcasts are an excellent way to establish thought leadership and foster trust.

Main advantages: Build thought leadership and strengthen connections with your audience and ecosystem.

2. Tutorials

Main platforms: YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn

If you are operating in a software-intensive (or complex equipment) ecosystem, such as an educational institution, a service/consulting provider or a software company, you should consider creating tutorials.

Tutorials are a very strong tool for businesses that want to demonstrate their expertise and provide value. By answering frequently asked questions and fixing problems, tutorials — whether they are comprehensive guides on how to use a product, recipe or software — allow companies to communicate with their audience. To make the information easier to understand, break each process down into manageable chunks and add visual aids like graphics, close-ups and captions.

Remember that tutorials can be short-form videos for Instagram or TikTok, leveraging the power of algorithms to meet the growing demand for “snackable” content.

Main advantages: Educates your audience while establishing your expertise — also leveraging algorithms to maximize your visibility.

3. News and industry insights

Main platforms: LinkedIn, X, Instagram

Sharing news and industry insights keeps your audience informed and positions your business as a thought leader. Whether it’s a summary of the latest trends in a short video, a breakdown of complex topics or an analysis of recent events, this format resonates with professionals seeking reliable information while also enhancing engagement and reactions.

To excel, focus on presenting clear, concise and well-researched content. Incorporating graphics, statistics and expert commentary adds credibility. This format is particularly effective for B2B companies and industries like finance, technology or media, where staying informed is critical.

Main advantages: Positions the business as an authority in its field and fosters engagement among a highly qualified audience.

Related: How To Create Engaging Video Content for Your Brand

4. Webinars

Main platforms: Dedicated webinar platforms, YouTube Live, LinkedIn

Webinars are a proven format for generating high-quality leads and educating an audience on complex topics. A well-executed webinar allows businesses to delve deep into subjects relevant to their target market, providing value while subtly promoting their products or services.

For your webinar to shine, preparation is essential. Focus on creating visually engaging slides, rehearsing your script and ensuring a seamless technical experience. Adding interactive elements, such as polls or Q&A sessions, can further captivate your audience. Webinars work exceptionally well for businesses looking to showcase expertise, train customers or launch new products (SaaS companies, consulting or training organizations).

Main advantages: Educates the audience at limited efforts, gives you the ability to interact with a broad audience and fosters a community feeling.

5. Inspirational and motivational short formats

Main platforms: Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, LinkedIn

Videos that are brief and inspirational are very good at connecting with viewers. This style establishes an emotional bond with your viewers, whether it’s a 30-second video about conquering obstacles or an intimate account of your business’s expansion.

Make sure these videos are relatable, succinct and visually appealing to maximize their impact. To draw attention, use engaging captions, upbeat music and genuine narratives. Brands in coaching, wellness or any other industry that wants to motivate people to take action will find this approach very effective.

Main advantages: Drives emotional connection and engagement — and also has a potential for virality.

6. Fun or hooking content

Main platforms: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube Shorts

Captivating content relies on strong hooks and visually compelling elements to grab the audience’s attention within the first few seconds. The fast-paced nature of this format is ideal for platforms that cater to short attention spans, such as TikTok or Instagram Reels.

Humor has always been a powerful tool for connection, and memes take it to the next level in today’s digital culture. Businesses that embrace absurd or funny content stand out in the crowded social media landscape. When done right, this format fosters relatability and engagement, especially for consumer brands.

Main advantages: Grabs attention and increases engagement — also highly shareable and great for viral potential.

Related: What Are the Secrets to Creating Social Media-Friendly Videos That Sell? Here Are 5 Answers.

Video content is not just a trend — it’s a cornerstone of modern marketing. By choosing the right formats and tailoring them to your business’s goals and audience, you can achieve significant growth in visibility and engagement. Some of our students achieved remarkable results in just four weeks by posting every two days.

Success hinges on the quality of your execution. Whether you have an in-house team or partner with skilled video professionals, the effort invested in video content will pay dividends in building trust, driving traffic and enhancing your brand’s presence.

The time to leverage video’s potential is now — are you ready to tell your story?



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This Software Designed for Families Can Also Improve Work Life

This Software Designed for Families Can Also Improve Work Life


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Compare your personal inbox with your professional email if you want evidence that business owners and professionals are commonly targeted by cybercriminals. Malware, phishing schemes, and even ads have the potential to compromise the security of a business and lead to an information breach. It’s frustrating, but it’s a simple problem to address.

With a tool like AdGuard on your side, you can enhance your privacy, block ads, protect against malware, and more. Normally $169, you can now get a lifetime subscription to AdGuard for nine devices on sale for $19.97.

What can AdGuard do?

AdGuard gives business owners the tools to protect their data. In some cases, that simply means blocking all ads, which gets rid of a common frustration and a potential vehicle for malware or phishing scams. AdGuard uses advanced filtering technology to remove pop-ups, banners, and video ads. That creates a smoother browsing experience while also reducing the risk of exposure to malicious content.

Beyond ad-blocking, AdGuard strengthens your online security by preventing access to harmful websites and blocking trackers that collect browsing data. This helps protect sensitive business information from potential breaches.

The built-in parental control feature also allows users to restrict access to inappropriate content, making it a useful tool for businesses managing shared devices or family-use computers.

AdGuard is compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, so you don’t need separate software for different types of devices. With the Family Plan, users can protect up to nine devices with a single lifetime license. No need to budget for another monthly expense.

Once installed, AdGuard runs in the background without slowing down device performance. It works with all major browsers and can be customized with additional filters to tailor the level of protection to individual needs.

Use code GUARD20 by February 23 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for $19.97.

AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription – $19.97

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Why Professionals are Trading TikTok for This Self Growth App

Why Professionals are Trading TikTok for This Self Growth App


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

The TikTok ban may have lasted less than a day, but it left behind an important question: Should we be spending so much of our time on social media? Many entrepreneurs and business professionals saw it as a wake-up call—not to delete social media but to spend more time on self-growth.

You don’t have to go back to school or bury your nose in books when apps like Headway exist. Imagine being able to turn on a mini-podcast on your way to work or read the key points of best-selling nonfiction titles over your lunch break. Lifetime subscriptions are $59.99 here with our unbeatable offer (reg. $299.95).

Replace doomscrolling with microlearning

Most of us can admit to spending a little too much time on social media, probably because it’s designed to be addicting. But a fun fact: so is Headway. With reads like trending autobiographies, CEO success stories, and career growth tips that only take 15 minutes, you’ll keep coming back for more.

Headway gets to know what you like, recommending your next read and keeping things you probably won’t far away. If you ever don’t feel like picking what to read next, try taking a curated challenge like “Success” or “Wealth.”

There’s a lot more to explore on the Headway app, like daily microlearning sessions, an intelligence-type test, and a yearly recap that celebrates how much you’ve learned. With a lifetime subscription, you never have to worry about recurring fees sneaking up on you.

You can get a lifetime subscription to this book summary app for $59.99 (reg. $299.95). You won’t find a better price anywhere else.

Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription – $59.99

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Why “Doing Less” Is The Key To Scaling Your Small Business These Next 6 Months

Why “Doing Less” Is The Key To Scaling Your Small Business These Next 6 Months


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

I travel a lot for my job, and although there are many downsides to being on the road, there is one significant benefit: it gives me time to think.

When you travel — particularly when you’re solo, as I oftentimes am — you have a lot of time to think. In the Uber. In security. Walking through the airport. Waiting for your flight. Being on your flight. Doing the reverse at your destination. Some people listen to music or podcasts during this downtime, and there are occasions when I do the same. But most of the time, I’m thinking. What are my thoughts?

Same as you, if you’re a business owner. I’m thinking about things going on in my life and my company. A new product we’re working on. A sales campaign I want to try. A challenging client situation. A difficult employee. Whether the Phillies should trade Alec Bohm. Why the guy sitting next to me is wearing sandals. Lots of thoughts are going through my little, silly, pathetic mind. But that’s fine. Thinking is good. And when I return from a trip, I usually have new ideas, different approaches to a problem — brilliant thoughts to share.

When I travel, I’m not on the phone as much as when I’m in the office. I’m also not sending as many emails or attending as many meetings. I’m doing less, but actually, I’m doing more.

Back in my office the next day, I’m completing tasks. I’m reviewing contracts. I’m working on a proposal. I’m on Zoom. I’m messaging an employee. I’m calling a contractor. I’m running to a client meeting. I’m doing a lot. But am I doing the right things? Am I really contributing to the long-term profitability and growth of my business? Am I acting or just reacting? I think you know the answer.

As business owners, we all spend too much time doing too many irrelevant things instead of what’s really important: thinking. Thinking about the future. Thinking about how to make our customers delighted, our products better, our employees happier. We should be thinking about the economy, regulations and new laws that may affect our business and how we’re going to deal with them. We should be thinking of our cash flow, our investments and how to increase the value of our businesses. But what about all the daily minutiae we have to deal with? I need to do less of them. So, I accomplish more.

Here are some actions I’m going to take this year so that I can accomplish more by doing less.

Related: 10 Growth Strategies Every Business Owner Should Know

Outsource to experts

I should not be doing my own payroll, creating quotes, researching issues or sending out bulk emails. This year, I’ll outsource these tasks. I’ll pay accountants, salespeople and outside marketers to do this for me. This will save me hours of time. And yes, it will cost, but the cost-benefit ratio will be much higher.

Force myself to get out more

I will leave my desk, play squash or ride my bike in the middle of the day, visit more clients, and have lunch with people I should’ve had lunch with years ago. The more I’m out, the more I leave my business to be run by my talented people, and the more time I will have to think about the business and how to scale it.

Join a CEO group

There are many great organizations around the country that assemble local groups of CEOs and business owners who regularly get together to discuss their businesses. They discuss their problems, share their financial information, offer guidance and ask for help. If I were to take the time to be with them and listen to what they have to say, I would benefit and grow. I may even have a few thoughts to help them, too.

Follow the 80/20 rule

It is amazing to me how much time I spend on clients that generate so little profit. Like many, I just want to please people. I realize that every client is important, and I want a client paying me $100 to be just as satisfied as a client paying me $10,000. But come on, does that really make sense? This year, I’m going to spend less time agonizing over small, marginally profitable accounts and focus on the clients who are truly the most valuable to my business. I’m not going to ignore the smaller clients. But I’m going to have a limit as to how much time I’m going to spend on them. I’ll do the same with our products and services. Do we need to have so many? Can we get more done with fewer offerings?

Related: 5 Innovative Ways to Create Growth Opportunities for Your Employees

Finally, I’m going to lean more into tech this year

I will look at every task I perform during the day — responding to emails, following up on opportunities, sending bulk messages, attending meetings, reviewing invoices, and writing proposals — and ask myself how this can be done quicker with technology. My company uses a great CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software application that comes with many workflow and automation features that are beginning to leverage AI, all designed to get more things done in less time. I will speak frequently to this vendor and ask how I can be doing things quicker and better with their software.

2025 is when I will do less. Less busy work. Less micromanaging. Less detailed tasks. That’s what my smartest clients do: they make the time to think. They accomplish more by doing less.



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How to Get a MacBook Air for Only 0

How to Get a MacBook Air for Only $230


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

So, you’re in the market for a new laptop. Can we convince you to buy a refurbished one instead? While they don’t have all the latest features, you can save hundreds of dollars, help the environment, and still get a near-mint device.

Take a look at this 13.3-inch MacBook Air in grade “A” condition. Instead of paying its original $999 retail price, you can grab one for only $229.97 with free shipping. The catch? We have an extremely limited number available and expect them to sell out fast.

What you need to know

The MacBook Air is one of the greatest laptops for everyday tasks. Even though this model is a few years old, Apple makes their devices so far ahead of their time that you’ll have fast enough processing to run essential apps like Microsoft Office and multitask.

Buying a refurbished MacBook Air isn’t the same as buying a used one from a friend. However, there are a few reasons why the price is discounted by 76%, like:

  • The outside of the laptop may show light signs of wear
  • You’ll have a minimum of 80% battery health
  • The MacBook only updates to macOS Monterey

If you experience any issues, your purchase is backed by a 90-day parts and labor warranty. This means the components are eligible for replacement during that window.

These affordable MacBook Airs won’t last long at $229.97 with free shipping (reg. $999)—get yours ASAP.

Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) – $229.97

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Boost Your Profits and Customer Loyalty With These 6 Business Strategies

Boost Your Profits and Customer Loyalty With These 6 Business Strategies


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Acquiring new customers has always been quite a challenge, and it’s getting more and more expensive and time-consuming in the realities of modern competition. Meanwhile, the main profits for businesses often come from repeat purchases.

While the average customer retention rate across all industries hovers around 75.5%, businesses should strive for higher rates, as studies have shown that repeat customers spend significantly more — often three times as much — compared to one-time shoppers.

In this article, I want to share the key moments to consider when striving to retain and grow the customer base.

1. Customer experience

Improving customer experience can turn one-time shoppers into loyal patrons, making it one of the most effective strategies for long-term growth. A 1% increase in customer acquisition leads to a 3.3% revenue increase, while a similar growth in customer retention pays off a 7% income growth.

Apple’s customer satisfaction and loyalty have been continuously growing. A brand’s attention to detail extends beyond the products themselves — starting from the packaging and ending with stores and design. For instance, they have a packaging designer who only works on evaluating prototype boxes. It transforms the act of opening an Apple product into a sensory experience, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to design and quality.

Everything that is done by Apple follows the philosophy that “details matter, and it’s worth waiting to get it right.” Thus, they focus on selling an experience rather than just a product.

Related: Understanding CAC: The Cornerstone of Business Economics

2. Personalization

Personalization is all about building stronger connections between customers and businesses, which translates into increased engagement, loyalty, and revenue. McKinsey research proves that 71% of consumers crave personalized interactions with brands, and companies that excel at offering such experiences enjoy 40% higher revenue growth than their competitors.

Spotify’s special playlists are a great example of how companies can use personal data to create new engaging experiences. For instance, their “Blend” playlist combines the listening habits of two users to create a unique mix that reflects the diverse music tastes of two close people.

This feature increased engagement rates and the average time spent in the mobile app. And it’s not just about the personalization itself — it also added an interactive social element to music discovery.

3. Loyalty programs

Effective loyalty programs are another tool for increasing repeat purchases and driving sustainable growth. 81% of consumers are more likely to return to brands that offer loyalty programs, with members spending 12-18% more annually than non-members.

Amazon Prime Day is an annual two-day shopping event for Prime members, featuring great discounts from top brands and small businesses, driving billions of dollars in sales. This event only proves the power of limited-time offers, altogether with the ‘chosen one’ status.

According to Numerator, 98% of attendees knew it was Prime Day before shopping, and just over half (53%) said Prime Day was their main reason for shopping. As a result, independent sellers sold more than 200 million items, mostly from small and medium-sized businesses.

4. Promotions and discounts

Promotions and discounts not only attract new customers but also create a sense of urgency, encouraging repeat purchases. According to RetailMeNot, 80% of consumers are more likely to make their first purchase from a new brand if offered a discount, and 68% are more likely to return after receiving a personalized offer.

Dunkin’ Donuts uses data from its Perks program to offer personalized promotions based on individual purchase history, preferences, location, and even time of day. This strategy pays off: internal data proves that 50% of DD Perks members visit more often when they receive a tailored offer. For example, a customer who regularly buys coffee in the morning might receive a discount on breakfast sandwiches. This level of personalization makes customers feel valued and understood, fostering deeper loyalty.

Related: 4 Questions All Business Owners Need to Answer to Have a Successful Exit Plan

5. After-sales engagement

Proactive after-sales interaction with the client strengthens trust, boosts satisfaction, and significantly increases the likelihood of repeat purchases. A Harvard Business Review study found that businesses that engage with customers post-sale enjoy a 20-40% higher customer retention rate, while 63% of consumers say they’re more likely to buy again from companies that offer the following services.

6. Building a Community

Building a community around your brand fosters emotional connections, drives loyalty, and stimulates repeat purchases by making customers feel valued and involved. According to Sprout Social, 76% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand they feel connected to, and 72% will make repeat purchases if they’re actively involved in the brand’s community.

LEGO is actively developing its community through the LEGO Ideas platform, where fans can submit their own ideas for the next product and vote for the bets they like. By incorporating UGC into its product development process, the brand has not only engaged its audience but also turned fans into loyal customers eager to purchase products they’ve helped create.



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Can This AI Tool Make Better Content Than ChatGPT?

Can This AI Tool Make Better Content Than ChatGPT?


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Running a small business or side hustle usually means you wear all the hats, but there’s probably one that feels like it weighs 10 gallons: creating content. For those who weren’t born with a paintbrush, writing articles and designing logos means spending a lot of time for sub-par results or hiring expensive freelancers. It might be time to try AI.

While you’ve heard of names like ChatGPT, it’s not the best at creating content. A tool like AI Magicx, however, is designed specifically for generating creative AI content. It’s also much easier to control and cheaper with a lifetime subscription at $69.99 with code TAKE30 at checkout (reg. $99.99).

Bring your creative ideas to life in seconds

Most other AI tools will charge you monthly, but your AI Magicx subscription gives you monthly credits. With them, you can create up to 250 images, 250 logos, and unlimited words each month—probably far more than you’ll ever need.

AI Magicx is also one of the simplest tools we on the StackCommerce deals team have ever tested. If you want to generate an AI image, this is all you have to do:

  1. Select a purpose and number of desired images.
  2. Enter a description (the more detailed you can be, the better).
  3. Choose an image style, like 3D, realism, or cartoon.
  4. Click “Generate.”

You can follow similar simple steps to create art, articles, stories, or strings of code to use on your website. There is even an AI document editor if you ever want a second pair of eyes on your writing.

Use code TAKE30 at checkout to get an AI Magicx lifetime subscription for $69.99 (reg. $99.99) for a limited time.

AI Magicx: Lifetime Subscription (Rune Plan)

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The Easy Way to Make Managing Your Rental Property Stress Free is Just

The Easy Way to Make Managing Your Rental Property Stress Free is Just $39


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Managing a vacation rental property can feel like a juggling act—keeping track of bookings, managing guest communication, adjusting pricing, and staying competitive in a crowded market. With the Mashvisor Vacation Rental Manager, all those tasks become effortless.

For just $39 (reg. $396), you get lifetime access to a powerful, user-friendly platform designed to streamline operations and boost your rental’s success. This is for the Starter Plan, which is one rental property.

Mashvisor aims to take the stress out of multi-platform management. Sync your properties across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and more, ensuring your calendars are always up to date and free of double bookings.

A unified inbox centralizes all guest messages, allowing you to respond quickly and professionally without jumping between apps. The built-in channel manager consolidates guest details and streamlines communication, making it easy to stay organized and deliver excellent customer service.

One popular feature is Mashvisor’s dynamic pricing tool, which adjusts your rental rates based on real-time market trends. This helps ensure your property stays competitive while maximizing revenue—all without constant manual updates.

Want to attract direct bookings? Create a custom personal booking website with no commission fees, allowing guests to reserve your property while you keep more of your earnings.

Beyond operational tools, Mashvisor empowers property owners with AI-powered insights and market data. These features help you optimize your listings, analyze market performance, and identify opportunities to outperform the competition. For business leaders looking to grow their rental income, this is the competitive edge you need.

Whether you’re a seasoned property manager or just starting out, the Mashvisor Vacation Rental Manager offers a smarter, easier way to handle your rental that can save you time and money.

Don’t miss this lifetime subscription to the Mashvisor Vacation Rental Manager Starter Plan for just $39 (reg. $396).

Mashvisor Vacation Rental Manager: Lifetime Subscription – $39

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3 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Frederick Douglass About Leading in Challenging Times

3 Lessons Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Frederick Douglass About Leading in Challenging Times


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

This Black History Month, we can learn a lot about how to move through challenging times by looking back at leaders who have experienced their fair share of challenges, too. It takes bravery, stamina, guts and a vision to move through dark eras and emerge victorious. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant, I spend most of my days helping companies big and small navigate challenges, and I often look to Black leaders like Frederick Douglass as examples of what resiliency looks like.

Here are three lessons that all entrepreneurs can learn when navigating trying situations in their professional and personal lives.

Choose the path of self-development

In challenging times, sometimes our best teacher is ourselves. And no one knows that better than Frederick Douglass. Despite being born into slavery, Frederick Douglass knew his ticket to freedom was through education. At the age of 6, Douglass moved to the Wye House plantation, where he was looked after by Lucretia Auld, the wife of a recently deceased slave overseer. Later, she sent him to serve her family members, Hugh and Sophia Auld, in Baltimore. When Douglass was about 12 years old, Sophia Auld began teaching him the alphabet. However, her husband Hugh strongly disapproved as he felt that literacy encouraged enslaved people to seek freedom.

In secret, Douglass would teach himself to read and write and once said, “Knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom.” Douglass taught himself how to spell from Webster’s spelling books and began to read and write with inspiration from posters on cellar and barn doors. In his later years, he went on to write three bestselling biographies: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an enslaved American (1845), My Bondage and My Freedom (1855) and Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881).

The lesson is this: When it’s time to evolve and change, choose the hard path of self-development for long-term growth and success. Whether it’s getting an executive coach when you’re feeling stuck, honing your fundraising skills, or implementing a new DEI program that stakeholders are skeptical about, do the hard thing that you know will pay off later.

Related: The 3 C’s That Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Can Teach Us Today To Advance Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Do and say what’s right — even if no one’s listening

Douglass was known worldwide as a vocal abolitionist. He spent two years in Ireland and Great Britain, delivering lectures on the need to eliminate slavery in the United States. Sympathetic Europeans donated money to buy his freedom from the Auld family. When he returned to the U.S. in 1847, he started the first abolitionist newspaper, the North Star, where he advocated the abolition of slavery in writing.

Here’s the lesson: Say and do what you know is right. In business, we often follow our competitors, copy what they do, iterate on it, and try to outdo them. But some of the best entrepreneurs I know chart their own paths, often swimming upstream, innovating along the way, and doing something that no one has ever done. In challenging times, these may feel like risky moves to make. But, these entrepreneurs focus on their vision for the future and do what they think is right, even if others aren’t bought in.

Related: From Faith to Politics: How to Navigate Difficult Conversations in the Workplace

If you’re feeling alone, build coalitions

When you’re stuck in a challenging situation — whether fighting to keep your business afloat or navigating an uncertain market — you can weather the storm by building coalitions and partnerships with those around you. Frederick Douglass did exactly that but with the women’s suffrage movement.

In 1848, Douglass was the only Black person in the room as he attended the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention in New York. When others couldn’t see the connection between women’s suffrage and abolition, Douglass spoke firmly in favor of a woman’s right to vote and equated the rights of Black men with the plight of women to vote. He often said that the world would be a better place if women had the right and power to participate in politics. For this era, this kind of partnership was revolutionary. Douglass wouldn’t be alive to see the 19th Amendment passed, but his allyship and advocacy for civil rights and liberty for all will never be forgotten.

The lesson is this: Build partnerships. No one in business can survive alone. If you haven’t built as many partnerships, alliances, and relationships as you’d like, now’s the time. Douglass understood that by leaning on a community of people who shared similar values and goals, he could elevate his cause and create collective growth. When times get hard in business, it’s the strength of your partnerships that will see you through.

Related: It’s Black History Month. Here’s How to Show Black Employees You Care.

Final thoughts

Sometimes, it’s helpful to look back in order to move forward. Looking to leaders like Frederick Douglass is not only an inspirational choice but a smart one. He was a man who struggled to navigate life in the era of slavery and rose to the occasion to teach himself how to read, write, speak, and eventually become a vocal advocate for freedom and liberation. You can’t help but feel that Douglass would be someone you’d reach out to in need of advice if he were still alive. He’s one of many figures in Black history who can provide us with a guiding light in times of uncertainty and turmoil and can be a model for moving through challenges with fortitude, confidence, and hope.



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Dell Issues Strict RTO Mandate for Most Employees

Dell Issues Strict RTO Mandate for Most Employees


In October, Dell Technologies told sales staff to return to the office five days a week. Now, the tech giant is issuing a strict return-to-office (RTO) mandate for all employees who live within an hour of their local offices, according to an internal memo exclusively obtained by Business Insider.

Dell staff received the news via email from the company’s CEO, Michael Dell. The RTO mandate begins in March.

“Starting March 3, all hybrid and remote team members who live near a Dell office will work in the office five days a week,” Dell wrote. “We are retiring the hybrid policy effective that day.”

Related: AT&T and Sweetgreen Are Following Amazon’s Lead With Stricter Return-to-Office Mandates

However, employees who live more than an hour from a Dell office can keep working remotely, the email stated, though the company also said last spring that remote employees would not be eligible for promotions without several layers of approvals and red tape.

Dell is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, and has 120,000 staffers worldwide. The company has more than 40 U.S. office locations to house its 43,000 employees in the States.

Dell is the latest major company to bring employees back to the office. The largest bank in the country, JPMorgan, also recently implemented a five-day-a-week RTO mandate. Walmart and Amazon have also brought workers back in-house.

Michael Dell, 59, founded Dell in 1984 when he was 19 years old. He is currently No. 14 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with a net worth of $117 billion.

Related: JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate



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