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How to increase employee satisfaction for the long haul

The success of a business hinges upon the well-being of its employees. Below, Eric Siu not only explains why a happy employee makes for a positive and productive work culture, but how to do so long-term. Professor Alex Edmans of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania discovered that businesses with high levels of employee […]
A simple formula for success: Here’s the three question test every firm should take

I want to share one of the most valuable lessons I have learned in my 15 years as a strategic marketer. Actually, I want to share a simple formula with you all — one that I believe can help profoundly improve business success, drive up thought leadership, and create a desire to buy. In our […]
how to incentivize interns to join your startup
Eight ways to incentivize interns when you don’t have the cash

How To Motivate Interns Without Money Let’s face it: it’s really easy to have penny-pincher syndrome in the startup world. With so many well-educated, jobless individuals, it’s easier than ever to underpay — or not pay someone at all — and call them an “intern.” But sometimes, it’s helpful to step back and remember that […]
Outsourcing can boost efficiency and creativity

Benefits Of Outsourcing In today’s competitive business world, the idea of outsourcing is often one many small business and startup CEOs overlook. But outsourcing can be highly beneficial to small companies and is not just reserved for large, multi-national corporations with limitless budgets. In fact, outsourcing to local freelancers, designers, or specialty, third-party companies can […]
Breaking up with your co-founder is never easy

Founding a company is hard work. The odds are against you from the beginning: the company survives on nearly no money, established businesses don’t take you seriously, and your personal life is a shell of what it once was. Your team becomes your family. Together, you have seen it all and you wouldn’t be where […]
Five bad habits to break before starting your business

Negative thoughts, and certain actions or sayings, can prevent you from accomplishing a goal. They steer you away from the bigger picture, deterring you from whatever you’re trying to accomplish. In order to start a business, you want to have a clear and positive frame of mind. After all, you will get enough negativity from […]
Why you should wait a day to send that email

The email I wrote was scathing. Of course it would be. I was pissed off, and I channeled all of that anger into a spiteful, angry, yet eloquent email about how this was absolutely unacceptable, and if the client wanted to continue working with me then they would pay on time. By the time I […]
Are these five fears preventing you from reaching your potential?

Do you have the courage to confront your fears? If you don’t, they will subconsciously influence your decisions and actions. These five fears are particularly important to acknowledge if you want to succeed with continuous improvement: 1. Fear of power loss 2. Fear of regret 3. Fear of losing face 4. Fear of falling behind […]
Taking The Freelance Leap And Surviving The Aftermath
Taking the freelance leap and surviving the aftermath

Taking a leap of faith to start a career in freelancing is daunting, but Career Contessa shares how one freelancer survived the dark days.  Last Friday was a tough day. I was in the kind of mood that’s hard to snap out of. I found myself falling victim to the stress and anxieties that anyone […]
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It’s bigger than an idea: the journey of the founders of Ideapod

The process of leaving the known and stepping into uncertainty is a persistent conversation among founders and also established organizations. Game-changing ideas and innovations often occur amidst that realm of uncertainty. Co-founders Justin Brown and Mark Bakacs decided to embark on that journey in September 2012 when they quit their occupations and committed entirely to […]