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Former Steve Jobs Intern: AI Would Be ‘Top Of Mind’

Former Steve Jobs Intern: AI Would Be ‘Top Of Mind’


DataStax CEO Chet Kapoor was once an intern for the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs.

He worked for Jobs from 1989 to 1993 as a campus consultant intern at a computer company Jobs founded, NeXT, and says that if Jobs were alive today, he would be thinking about AI.

“If he was around for the last 10 years, I guarantee you it [AI] would’ve been top of mind for him,” Kapoor told Quartz reporter Rocio Fabbro on Thursday. “He was always somebody in my mind, his biggest gift to us was bringing liberal arts and computer science together to give us the products he gave us.”

Steve Jobs in 2010. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Apple, meanwhile, has been gradually exploring AI for the iPhone, iPad and Mac. Earlier this week, Apple released a new software update that brings ChatGPT to its products. Now, iPhone users can direct questions to ChatGPT through Siri and generate images with ChatGPT to accompany text.

Related: Apple Is Adding ChatGPT to iPhones This Week. Here’s How It Works.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with Wired last week that AI ushers in a new era for all Apple products.

“I think it changes the way you interface with the product,” Cook said.

Cook mentioned Jobs as well in the interview, stating that Apple’s headquarters at Apple Park reminded him of Jobs.

“There’s a connection here to Steve that is incredible and very deep,” Cook said. “We have the theater named after him and think about him all the time, but I can feel him in other spaces too.”

Related: 4 Things Steve Jobs Taught Me About Succeeding as an Entrepreneur



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Say Hello to the Secure Cloud Storage Alternative Entrepreneurs Need

Say Hello to the Secure Cloud Storage Alternative Entrepreneurs Need


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.

Data breaches and ballooning subscription fees don’t exactly scream “success.” For entrepreneurs and business professionals, Internxt offers a smarter solution: a Dropbox alternative with a 10TB lifetime cloud storage plan for a one-time cost of $279.99 with promo code HOLIDAY20.

It’s secure, private, and built to grow with your business — all without recurring fees draining your budget.

Internxt takes data protection seriously. Built with privacy as a priority, its platform uses end-to-end encryption to safeguard files, ensuring only you have access to your data, the company says. Unlike many mainstream providers, Internxt is open-source, offering complete transparency about how your information is handled. For industries dealing with sensitive information, like finance, healthcare, or legal, this level of security and compliance with industry standards is a game-changer.

Collaboration and accessibility are seamless with Internxt. Whether you’re sharing files with your team or accessing documents on the go, its cross-platform compatibility lets you work from desktops, tablets, or smartphones effortlessly. With 10TB of space, it’s an ideal storage solution for growing businesses, providing ample space to meet current demands while scaling with you as your needs evolve.

The cost-effectiveness of Internxt’s lifetime subscription is hard to ignore. Traditional cloud storage often comes with growing subscription fees, but Internxt offers a one-time investment that eliminates ongoing costs. This makes it not just a storage solution but a strategic decision for businesses looking to save money and improve efficiency.

For entrepreneurs looking to take control of their data, Internxt delivers a secure, scalable, and budget-friendly solution that prioritizes privacy and flexibility.

With a lifetime subscription to 10TB of Internxt Cloud Storage for $279.99 with code HOLIDAY20, you can safeguard your files, collaborate effortlessly, and future-proof your business — all without breaking the bank.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



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Still Paying for Adobe Acrobat? Try This Instead.

Still Paying for Adobe Acrobat? Try This Instead.


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.

Subscription fatigue isn’t just about Netflix and Spotify—it’s your business and work tools, too. Adobe Acrobat’s recurring fees can feel like a necessary evil, but they’re not. An equally powerful alternative lets you ditch the monthly payments for good.

Meet PDF Expert, a Mac app that offers a lifetime subscription. Unlike Adobe Acrobat, just pay once to keep this tool for life. Even if you upgrade Macs, your subscription follows. Head to checkout to get PDF Expert at our unbeatable price: $79.99 (reg. $139.99).

Say goodbye to PDF woes and fees for life

Multiple reviewers compare PDF Expert to Adobe Acrobat, one saying, “All the utility and none of the hassles of Acrobat Pro,” while the other writes how it works the same, “for substantially less money.”

It has all the PDF tools you need and no confusing interface to get in your way when it’s time to get work done. Buy and download PDF Expert now to unlock all of these features for life:

  • Edit: Fix typos, add paragraphs, insert images, and link to external pages directly in your PDFs.
  • Annotate: Highlight key points, add comments, and use custom stamps for efficient reviews.
  • Organize: Merge multiple files, rearrange or delete pages, and split PDFs into separate documents.
  • Convert: Turn PDFs into Word, Excel, or image files—or create PDFs from various file types.
  • Fill out: Complete interactive forms, sign documents electronically, and redact sensitive information.
  • Recognize text: Use OCR to make scans searchable, enhance quality, and crop pages as needed.

Check out now to get a PDF Expert lifetime subscription for $79.99 (reg. $139.99). You won’t find a better price anywhere else.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



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Alleviate Entrepreneurial Imposter Syndrome With Franchising

Alleviate Entrepreneurial Imposter Syndrome With Franchising


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

About eight years ago, I finally decided enough was enough — enough red tape, enough bureaucracy, enough of not feeling like my efforts aligned with my professional success. As much as I was ready for a change and knew what I’d be walking away from, I wasn’t sure what I was walking towards. After all, there is a big gulf between corporate frustration and finding the confidence to venture out into uncharted territory. I was confident in my abilities, but entrepreneurial imposter syndrome is real — Sound familiar?

Fortunately, I was able to find my way into a career path that provided a template for success while maintaining entrepreneurial independence: franchising. Today, as a former franchise owner and a current franchise consultant who has helped guide hundreds of individuals into franchising, I can confirm how the franchise model can alleviate entrepreneurial imposter syndrome and provide a fantastic path toward professional independence.

Let’s break down three imposter syndrome insecurity questions and explore how franchising offers a solution.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

1. How do I know if I have the right skill set to be an entrepreneur?

Fortunately, when going through the discovery process, franchisors aren’t necessarily looking for a one-size-fits-all individual. While it’s important that you are adaptable and willing to learn and grow, franchises often complement your already-developed skill set.

First and foremost, it’s important to have an honest introspective look at your own experience to take stock of your skills. Most professionals have an area or two they consider to be “weak spots.” Is it finance? Sales? Engineering? Admin? Other? Realizing these holes exist in your professional repertoire can be unsettling for an aspiring entrepreneur. However, the franchising model helps to alleviate some of these concerns.

Let’s consider managerial aptitude. Whether you are confident in your ability to manage people or you absolutely hate managing people, there are franchise models that work for you. Brand selection is vital. In most cases, franchise owners don’t have a huge number of employees, but if you do want to avoid employee management, there are ways to do so.

Aversion to sales? B2C franchises that have recurring customer bases may be a good fit. (Consider a service brand like lawn care in which the franchisor has a larger call center, but your local franchise performs the services.)

Once you have selected a franchise brand that matches your skills, you are also immediately provided with an operations playbook — literally called “operations manual” from the franchisor. This manual provides step-by-step instructions for running every aspect of your business and a template for how the business can be successful.

Through careful brand selection and the information provided by a robust operations manual, franchising opens doors of possibilities that can match your skill set. Additionally, it may be worth working with a franchise consultant — a professional who helps candidates match their skill sets with the right business model.

Related: How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Start a Business, According to Gary Vee, a Serial Entrepreneur Worth Over $200 Million

2. Am I too young or too old to start my own business?

Ultimately, determining whether you are the “right” age to be a new business owner depends far more on you as an individual than on your actual age.

If you’re young, maybe you haven’t been as multifunctional because you just don’t have the experience of someone who has been in a corporate role for decades. Alternatively, maybe you’ve been doing the same job for so long that you’re concerned you’ll need support when shifting gears.

Luckily, franchising offers a solution here, too: franchising networks.

One of the most useful resources for franchise ownership is the network of current franchisees that exist within each brand. From day one as a new franchise owner, you will have access to other franchisees under the same brand that have experienced your exact situation. These peer groups become your trusted advisory board, sharing best practices and advice for every aspect of your business.

You may be attracted to business ownership so that you are in business for yourself, but when you join a franchise network, you’re not in business by yourself. These seasoned franchise owners are a better resource for you than the franchisor in many cases. You’ll be able to work with people who are in the same industry and offer the same service, but who aren’t competitors because you are in different geographic markets.

Related: It’s Never Too Late (or Early) to Become an Entrepreneur

3. Do I really have it in me to start from square one?

Professional fatigue is real. And I won’t lie to you, starting a business is not for the faint of heart.

No way around it, you’re going to have to work hard upfront. But it’s important to remember, when you are working for yourself, you’re operating from a different mindset than when you’re working for someone else. It may be hard to see that now, but if you’re truly ready for a change, you need to ask yourself:

Is a required level of discomfort now to make a change more difficult than the ongoing risk of losing your job, frustration in your role or dissatisfaction I currently feel in my career?

If you’re considering franchise ownership, you’re never truly starting from square one. The day you open your doors for business, your franchise is going to have professional branding and a recognizable market presence. When people interact with your brand, it inspires confidence to interact with a proven franchise model.

Related: Build Confidence and Get Over Imposter Syndrome by Focusing on 3 Areas



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How CEOs Can Take Control of Their Emails and Achieve Inbox Zero

How CEOs Can Take Control of Their Emails and Achieve Inbox Zero


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Although there are many methodologies that a leader can practice to manage their emails effectively, a consistent and thought-through process is the most effective way to systemize and respond to emails and is a step of stewardship for the effective leader.

I have worked with CEOs for two decades, and almost every CEO deals with an enormous amount of emails and struggles with how to manage them effectively. In one survey that I conducted with over 1,000 CEOs and business owners, 93% stated that they struggle with email management. Through my experience as a founder of CEO Experience and having worked with CEOs of both large and small businesses, I have found that effective email management can mean good overall management.

In today’s world, email is a critical tool for leaders to communicate effectively. Unfortunately, many leaders either neglect their email correspondence or lack an efficient method for managing their inbox.

Related: 6 Ways to Manage Your Email List Like a Pro

1. Divide your emails into your company business year

In business, starts and stops are essential to success. Many things in business are divided into a yearly structure. Business finances are often divided into a business year. One major mistake that many CEOs make concerning their emails is never dividing them into a business year. They continue to let their emails build up year after year. When you divide your emails in each calendar year, leaders can have a start and stop in their email inbox. Each new calendar year will bring your emails to zero.

For example, if your business calendar year ends in September, you should archive last year’s emails and create a new main folder for the new business year. Effective email management starts with understanding your email information’s starting and stopping points.

2. Create folders for your main subjects

An important step to effective email management is organizing your emails into folders. Folders allow the leader to categorize key areas of focus that the leader might have to deal with repeatedly. Folders should be created for key topics and key people in the organization. The better a leader can identify their folders, the better the leader will be able to manage their email.

3. CEOS need folders on these nine key areas of business

Every business, no matter its size, deals with issues related to strategy and vision: accounting and finance, sales and marketing, human resources, operations, customers, personal leadership and issues, kingdom impact, and team development and culture. When a leader knows where to file their emails, emails become easier to manage. Many emails stay in the inbox because the leader has nowhere to file the email.

4. Create sub-folders under your main folders for easy seating capability

Once your main folders have been created, the task of creating subfolders to organize your emails better should be created. For example, you might want to create a subfolder for each employee in your company under the human resource folder. These would allow you to keep critical information on the employee that would be easy to search and find. Subfolders are essential to good email management.

Only emails that are useful for future consideration or record-keeping should be kept. Don’t forget that your sent folder is also a document folder for information that can be searched when needed.

One example that I use is to copy or blind copy myself on a sent email for filing purposes.

5. Create email templates for emails you know you will use frequently

Great leadership is consistent leadership. When leaders repeatedly do tasks, they will find success when the task is done well. There is much repetition in email correspondence. The CEO who will use emails they write as a template for later emails can save themselves hours of work time and practice good stewardship.

6. Use flags or develop a way to identify critical email follow-up

One way to sort through emails quickly in your inbox is to flag them for future follow-up. You can color code emails using flags or file an email with a reminder to work on the email later.

In my experience in managing massive amounts of emails, I address every email in one of four ways: unessential emails, which can be deleted; FYI or understanding emails, which should be read and then deleted; U-turn emails that need action but at a later time; and urgent and timely emails that need action immediately.

The third category (u-turn) of emails is those that need action and will often be forgotten unless flagged for a later date.

Related: 4 Tips to Better Manage Your Email Inbox

7. Challenge yourself to act on each email every day

Being aggressive about email management will reduce stress and make the leader more productive. Calendaring times throughout the day to read email can be helpful. For example, a leader could schedule 15 minutes at 9, 11, 2, and 5 to check email and respond appropriately. The more consistent habits and behaviors you establish as a leader, the more productive you will become.

One senior government executive I have worked with has effectively managed her email inbox to zero over her two decades in government. She states, “Effective email management will reduce stress, enhance performance, and help the leader to gain credibility in every area of their leadership.”

Although effective email management may not be the only key to business success and good stewardship, it is an essential part of the process in which many executive leaders spend their time and effort.

Email is a component of every job and task in the workforce today. Managing emails and responding promptly can make the difference between business success and failure. When leaders understand how to effectively use email as a tool instead of seeing it as a burden, they will move from just responding to emails to utilizing it as one of the essential technical aspects of the business in which they work.



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3 Rules to Follow to Stop Burnout and Achieve Work-Life Balance

3 Rules to Follow to Stop Burnout and Achieve Work-Life Balance


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A Walmart Business study shows that 70% of small business owners experience burnout at least once a month and only 10% feel they take enough vacation. This statistic highlights the challenge most entrepreneurs face in maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

As an entrepreneur, I am not indifferent to this concern. I know there is negative sentiment on hustle culture and I want to change this mindset through our social hustling community, Fud. Our goal is to take the hustle back where it is about working smarter and finding freedom, building something enduring and not chasing growth at all costs.

It’s time to take a shift from the relentless all-in hustle culture to a healthy mindset that integrates personal well-being with professional achievement. Here are three rules I practice to build a resilient business while leading a balanced and fulfilling life.

Related: 8 Ways Successful People Master Resilience

Work hard then work smart

It’s a deeply ingrained belief that hard work is the ultimate path to success. When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I used to work tirelessly, push harder and clock endless hours, believing that it’s the only way to reach the top.

Over time, I realized that progress is not only determined by how hard I work. Doing everything on my own and prioritizing work above all else doesn’t always yield better results and can negatively impact my health and relationships. I knew I needed a smarter approach to work if I want to overcome my limitations and grow a scalable business.

But there’s a catch: Working smarter only works when hard work is put in first. This means laying the foundation to support a stable business. Every time I start a new venture, I keep this in mind and commit to mastering my craft, understanding the market, expanding my network and learning from failures.

After establishing systems, building my expertise and earning my reputation, I shift to working smart. I decided to be intentional with my time and effort to create a meaningful impact in both my business and personal life. Working smart means having a clear vision and strategy, maximizing resources, optimizing processes and creating space for collaboration and support. This can involve hiring a team, outsourcing activities or leveraging technology to automate tasks and boost productivity.

It also includes spending time with family and nurturing relationships. I find that investing in my personal growth, seeking help when needed and taking time to rest help recharge me and keep me motivated to achieve my goals. Working really hard and then working smart gives me the confidence to trust my team and the process, so I can focus on strategic decisions to drive my business toward long-term success without neglecting my health and well-being.

Related: Resilience Is One of the Most Essential Entrepreneurial Traits. Practicing This Can Help You Build It.

Take grit with self-compassion

According to Angela Duckworth, a psychologist and pioneer researcher of grit, individuals with high levels of grit show strong perseverance and passion for long-term goals which makes them more likely to succeed in their personal and professional endeavors. Through her research, she found that grit can be developed through experience, which is why many entrepreneurs focus on strengthening this trait.

However, the problem is that an intense pursuit of grit can sometimes overlook emotional well-being. Relentless perseverance can be counterproductive when setbacks are taken too personally, leading to self-criticism that instills self-doubt, reduces motivation and increases the risk of burnout.

To build grit holistically, it should be balanced with self-compassion. Being able to face challenges with kindness and understanding helps in assessing the problem objectively and gives a new perspective to find effective solutions. Combining grit with self-compassion fosters resilience in a way that is both sustainable and mentally supportive.

Choose to pivot than power through

As an entrepreneur, knowing when to change course and take a different approach could mean the difference between failing like Kodak and thriving like Netflix. Kodak became fixated on preserving its legacy through their film-based business model and was reluctant to innovate in the digital era. This ultimately rendered their products and services obsolete, leading them to declare bankruptcy in 2012.

Meanwhile, Netflix is a great example of a business adapting to the changes in the market. From a DVD rental service, the company pivoted to streaming and later expanded into content production, becoming a leading player in the streaming and entertainment industry today.

I encountered a similar challenge with my UK-based startup, SimplyFinance. We specialized in lead generation for personal finance when the Great Financial Crisis hit. At the start, mortgage leads were valued at up to £200 each, but during the Global Financial Crisis, they plummeted to just 50 pence per lead.

Related: The Art of Navigating ‘No’ — When to Persist, Pivot or Give Up and Pack it In

As the market declined, I made the mistake of taking it personally and pushed myself to work twice as hard, believing I could turn things around on my own. In hindsight, I should have taken a step back, assessed the situation more objectively and sought help since I didn’t have all the answers.

After rethinking our approach, SimplyFinance successfully pivoted into insurance leads and a Q&A service for investment advice. I realized it was crucial to evaluate our strengths and adapt rather than resist the realities of the marketplace.

Entrepreneurs who power through challenges in any circumstance can be seen as commendable. However, their strong commitment to a specific goal or method, combined with a reluctance to adapt may sometimes cause them to miss opportunities for greater success. While hard work and grit can turn dreams into reality, it’s essential for business leaders to regularly assess whether both the means and end goals are still relevant and valuable to the markets they serve.

Unlearning and redefining long-standing beliefs is truly challenging, but a holistic approach to success is what we need for sustained growth and long-term success. Hard work should be guided by strategy, grit tempered with self-compassion and commitment balanced with adaptability. Remember, true success enhances all aspects of life, not detracts from it.



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Your Shortcut to Project Management Success Is Just .97 for the Holidays

Your Shortcut to Project Management Success Is Just $17.97 for the Holidays


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 projects is no small feat. Whether you’re juggling tasks, budgets, or timelines, you need tools that work as hard as you do. That’s where Microsoft Project 2021 Professional comes in—a powerful project management solution designed to help business leaders and project managers stay on track.

And at just $17.97 (reg. $249.99) through December 22, it’s a deal you can’t afford to miss. You can even head straight to checkout to get it ASAP.

With Microsoft Project Pro 2021, you can take control of your workflows and deliver faster results. Use pre-built templates to kickstart your projects, create detailed timelines for tracking progress, and leverage auto-scheduling tools to reduce inefficiencies. Whether managing a small team or overseeing a large-scale initiative, this tool provides everything you need to stay organized and informed.

Easily assign tasks, set dependencies, and automatically calculate start and end dates. It also helps with resource allocation. Track your team’s workloads and allocate resources where they’re needed most.

You’ll also be able to utilize data-driven decision-making. For example, you can run what-if scenarios to optimize task assignments and make informed decisions.

Does this sound like a game-changer for you? Head right to checkout to get it faster.

No matter how full your plate is, Project can help make things easier. Working with multiple timelines? You can visualize complex schedules and stay ahead of deadlines with built-in timelines. You can even sync with Project Online and Project Server for real-time updates and collaboration.

Microsoft Project Pro 2021 isn’t just for large-scale organizations—it’s perfect for small businesses, startups, and freelancers, too. Its flexibility means it can handle projects of all sizes and complexities, from event planning to enterprise-level operations.

Because this is a lifetime license, there are no recurring subscription fees—making it an incredible long-term investment. Plus, since it’s a digital download, it makes a useful gift that doesn’t require shipping time.

Head to checkout to get this lifetime license to MS Project while it’s on sale for the holidays for just $17.97 (reg. $249.99) through December 22.

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Jumpstart Your Business With These Cost-Saving Strategies

Jumpstart Your Business With These Cost-Saving Strategies


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Starting a small business is an exciting journey filled with opportunities and challenges. One of the most critical aspects of this journey is managing costs effectively. From selecting the most suitable business and legal structures to crafting a robust financial plan, there are various avenues to explore that will ensure your venture is off to a solid start.

Related: Considering franchise ownership? Get started now to find your personalized list of franchises that match your lifestyle, interests and budget.

Choose the right business structure

Selecting the right business structure is one of the earliest and most pivotal decisions you will make as a small business owner. This choice will substantially impact your liability protection, tax responsibilities, and operational adaptability. Let’s delve into the advantages and disadvantages of the most common business structures: Sole proprietorship, LLCs, and S-Corps. Liability protection is a crucial consideration when choosing a business structure.

Sole Proprietorship Business and Tax Structure:

  • Structure: A sole proprietorship is owned and operated by a single individual. The owner has unlimited personal liability, meaning they are personally responsible for all business debts and legal obligations.
  • Tax implication: A sole proprietorship benefits from “pass-through” taxation. This means that the business itself is not taxed separately from the owner. Instead, the income and losses from the business pass through to the owner’s personal tax return.

LLC Business and Tax Structure:

  • Structure: An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a popular choice for business owners because it separates your assets from your business’s debts and liabilities. This means your finances are protected if your business is sued or faced with claims.
  • Tax implication: LLCs offer pass-through taxation, a mechanism that can simplify your tax obligations by allowing profits and losses to be reported on your tax return. This can help smaller businesses avoid the complexities of double taxation.

S-Corps (Subchapter S Corporations) Business and Tax Structure:

  • Structure: S-Corps (Subchapter S Corporations) provide liability protection, but they have more formal operations, and there are more requirements to maintain your status.
  • Tax implication: S-Corps also provides pass-through taxation, but with this structure comes the added complexity of stricter IRS regulations.

It’s wise to think ahead about your company’s future. You might need to expand, take on new partners, or change ownership. Some legal structures are more adaptable to these shifts than others. Choosing a structure that can grow and change with your business can save you time and money in the long run.

Complexity, cost, and future growth

The complexity and cost of each structure can vary significantly. LLCs and S-Corps require formal registration with the state and ongoing compliance, such as filing annual reports and paying fees. This can add to both the initial and ongoing costs. Sole proprietorships are generally more straightforward and less expensive. A sole proprietorship also requires minimal paperwork and formalities to start and maintain the business. However, the lack of liability protection may outweigh the cost savings in the long run.

Related: See The Entrepreneur 2024 Top Franchise Supplier List

Create a financial plan

Creating a financial plan is a critical first step when starting a small business because it will help you manage your finances effectively and ensure the long-term viability of your business. Your financial plan will also become valuable for attracting investors and lenders—initial expenses. Your initial expenses are the costs you will incur to get your business up and running.

The next step is to forecast your income and profits. This process starts with estimating your future sales based on market research, industry data, and sales pipeline. Accurate sales forecasting helps you to set better targets and plans. It also allows you to manage your cash flow and determine the funding or investment required.

Budgeting is a critical component of financial planning. A well-constructed budget will allocate funds to different categories of expenses to ensure that the company is operating within its means. Equally important is the monitoring of these expenditures. Maintaining detailed financial records and reviewing financial reports regularly is also essential. Reports such as income statements and balance sheets can provide a comprehensive overview of your financial performance and highlight areas that require your attention.

Related: The Critical First 100 Days of Onboarding — What You’re Likely Overlooking That Could Make or Break Your New Hire

Is franchising an option?

For small business owners, franchising can be an appealing way to start a business. But it’s not for everyone. There are pros and cons to franchising. A significant advantage is that you get to be your boss while also benefiting from a recognized brand. This can help you get customers in the door more quickly than if you were starting a business from scratch. But you also need to consider the costs. Franchises can be expensive, so carefully consider the costs and benefits.

When exploring franchising, finding opportunities that align closely with your business objectives and financial capacity is essential. Conducting thorough research can help identify franchises that offer support in marketing, training, and operational procedures. This support is invaluable, especially for new entrepreneurs, as it provides a proven business model and operational framework. However, this comes with trade-offs in terms of flexibility and brand control.

Ultimately, the decision to pursue franchising should be based on a comprehensive evaluation of its benefits and drawbacks, as well as your specific business objectives and financial situation. While franchising offers the advantage of working within a proven business model and leveraging an established brand, it also comes with operational fees, set guidelines, and legal obligations. By carefully considering these factors and seeking expert advice, small business owners can make an informed decision that supports their long-term success.

Embarking on a small business venture is a thrilling journey filled with opportunities and challenges. Remember, every decision should align with your long-term goals and financial capacity. With thorough research, expert advice, and a proactive approach to cost management, you can navigate the complexities of starting a company and steer your venture toward sustained growth and profitability.

Related: Find Out Which Brands Have Ranked on the Franchise 500 for Longest, Earning a Spot In our New ‘Hall of Fame’



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Google’s Biggest Bet Is Bringing AI to Search, Says CIO

Google’s Biggest Bet Is Bringing AI to Search, Says CIO


Google has made multi-million dollar investments in founders, internet infrastructure and clean energy, but its biggest gamble so far has been choosing to add AI to search, says Google’s chief investment officer and president Ruth Porat.

“The biggest bet we continue to make is actually the application of AI to search and continuing to evolve that experience,” Porat said earlier this week at the Reuters NEXT Conference. “We’re meeting people where they want to be met. It’s extraordinary.”

Porat mentioned that it was “beautiful” to see Google Search go from “10 blue links,” or the 10 links per page that characterized Google’s old search result interface, to now AI overviews, or AI-written summaries of search results that populate at the top of Search.

“It keeps evolving,” she said.

Google CIO Ruth Porat. Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Fortune

Google began rolling out AI overviews to U.S. users in May. Almost immediately, things started going wrong. The AI search results were hallucinating or spewing inaccuracies, telling users to eat rocks or make pizza sauce with non-toxic glue, for example.

Related: These Are AI’s ‘Most Obvious’ Risks, According to Google’s Former CEO

In the following months, Google adjusted the sources that it drew from for AI overviews, shifting away from forum-based sites like Reddit and more to sites with specialized knowledge, like Runners World.

Now, it’s clear that Google intends to keep adding AI features to search, even if it is a risky move.

Last week, Google CEO Sundar Pichai explained at the New York Times DealBook Summit that Google Search will significantly change next year. As AI models get more advanced, Search will be able to handle more complex questions than ever.

“I think you’ll be surprised even early in ’25 the kind of newer things Search can do compared to where it is today,” he said.

Related: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says ‘You’ll Be Surprised’ By How Google Search Changes Next Year

Google has 89.98% of the global search engine market share, according to Stat Counter, with competitors like Bing and Yahoo! only holding 3.94% and 1.24% respectively.



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5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

The Future of Mornings: 5 AI Hacks You Can’t Ignore

By 2025, AI-powered tools will optimize workflows in ways we never thought possible, potentially slashing costs and streamlining operations at levels many businesses aren’t ready for. With companies like Anthropic, Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI racing to lead this AI evolution, “Phase 3” of AI—where tools act as productivity-boosting digital assistants—is closer than you think. It’s here now!

In this video, we’ll dive deep into 5 rule-breaking AI hacks that will transform your mornings from sluggish to supercharged. Discover how these AI assistants work, and why they’re set to redefine productivity, profitability, and your daily routine. I’ll break down strategies to integrate these hacks into your own mornings and show you what’s needed to stay ahead of this game-changing technology.

Download the free ‘AI Success Kit’ (limited time only). And you’ll also get a free chapter from Ben’s brand new book, ‘The Wolf is at The Door – How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World.’



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