The benefits of freelancing continue expanding and providing new opportunities. Freelancing has become one of the most popular new career choices for young adults across the world.

  As of 2022, there are 70.4 million freelancers in the United States, with an estimated 1.2 billion freelancers around the world. 

Why has freelancing gotten so popular, so much so that almost one-third of the global workforce is doing it?  The answer lies in the numerous benefits of freelancing. 

Not only do you get to be your own boss, but you gain the experience of working on a variety of projects you wouldn’t have access to at a 9 to 5 job.  

To help give you an idea of what freelancer benefits lie ahead of you, I’ll go over the pros and cons of freelancing and which platforms can help you get started.

5 Benefits Of Freelancing

If you want to join the expanding number of freelancers across the world, consider the benefits of freelancing to help you decide if it’s the right path for you. 

These freelancer benefits include:

1. You choose the employer

We rarely get to choose our bosses in life. All of us have had that boss who demands too much without offering the support we need to get the job done.

  When you work freelance, it’s up to you who you work with. It is one of the greatest benefits of freelancing. You get to be your own boss, which means you call the shots on which clients you take on. 

If a client is difficult to work with, you’re perfectly able to turn down work from them in favor of clients who are a better match.

2. Work as much or as little as you want

Depending on your schedule, you can take on as much or as little freelance work as you like. 

If you’re freelancing on the side, then you can take on one or two projects to supplement your regular income. 

Or, if you’ve decided to become a full-time freelancer, you can determine the optimal workload that doesn’t leave you feeling burned out.

3. Develop your own schedule

Freelancing gives you the independence to develop your own schedule. If you’re an early bird, you can set office hours in the early morning to leave your afternoons wide open. 

If you’re a night owl, there’s no one stopping you from working late nights and spending your mornings with your family or sleeping in. 

The benefits of freelancing also includes giving yourself time off whenever you want, allowing you to attend special events or take vacations without having to clear it with your boss.

4. Be your own boss

One of the best benefits of freelancing is the ability to be your own boss. Many jobs force you to color within the lines, delivering the work that your boss desires even if you would prefer to do things differently. 

When you work freelance, you get to decide how you operate. 

If you want to work from home in your pajamas, no one can stop you. If you want to outsource certain parts of the work, you have the freedom to do so.

5. Work on a greater variety of projects

When we work on new projects outside of our comfort zone, we gain new skills that make us more valuable in the workforce. 

While a regular job might limit the scope of the projects you take on, freelancing gives you the opportunity to work on a wider variety of projects. 

You get to decide whether or not to branch out and challenge yourself, which can help you build your resumé faster and become eligible for more work.

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What Are The Cons Of Freelance Working?

If freelancing didn’t have any pitfalls, everyone would be doing it. However, the people who succeed at freelancing do so because the rewards it provides exceed the cons. 

Here are a few potential downsides of freelance working:

1. You have to pay taxes by yourself

When you have a steady gig at a company, your employer chips in to pay part of your taxes.

 This means that you only pay a portion of Social Security and Medicare while your employer helps pay for the rest. 

Working freelance means you take on these taxes all by yourself, paying the full corporate share.

2. You don’t have a fixed income

A steady gig guarantees you a fixed income. When you work freelance, you’ll have times where you’re making a lot of money and times where you make very little. 

If you’re good at budgeting, you can weather the rough patches just fine. 

But some people aren’t equipped to handle these ups and downs, preferring the security of a regular job instead.

3. You may feel isolated

Isolation is a potential downside of working for yourself. Without an office of coworkers to go into every day, you need to make an effort to maintain connected to other people. 

This may mean working from coffee shops or co-working spaces where you can meet and maintain relationships with other freelancers.

4. It can be tough to find a work-life balance

At a regular job, you clock in and out at specific hours. When you work freelance, it can be tough to slip out of work mode. 

You’ll need to work extra hard to give yourself a firm end-time to the work, just as you would if you were working at a regular job.

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How Do You Start Freelancing?

The best way to start freelancing is to engage with freelancing platforms.  Here are a few to help you get started:

Audo

Audo is a company that I created to help Gen Zers learn new skills and earn money at the same time. 

Using data-driven recommendations, you can discover which online courses will gain you the skills you need to succeed. 

You can also use the platform to find work through our Audo Earn Marketplace, putting your new skills to work right away.  

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Fiverr

Fiverr has sections for different freelancing skills, from graphic design to writing online content. 

You’ll make a gig and set your own rates, waiting for clients to purchase your gig from a list of other freelancers.

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Upwork

Upwork puts the onus on you to find work, allowing you to bid on project proposals using a personal cover letter and work samples. 

This can be especially helpful for those with detailed portfolios that they can use to impress buyers.

There are many pros and cons of freelancing, but luckily the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

  If you’re a self-starter who’s willing to put in the effort to find your own work, then freelancing will give you the flexibility and freedom to build a successful future.

Everyone has come up with an idea and thought, “I should start my own company.” But only 5% of those people actually do it. Starting a business requires more than just an idea, you need to know the steps to be successful. Ideas are the driving force behind every company. The companies I’ve created were born of simple ideas that fulfilled unmet needs and made a difference in the world. 

Audo began with the goal of providing Gen Z with the skills it needed to enter the workforce.  After publishing my writing on the Huffington Post in 2016, I was inspired to create Nota because I saw the need for vetted and anonymous publishing to restore civil discourse. My sister and I founded Guin Music to provide a full artist-first-ecosystem focused on artist development and sustainability. 

If you have an idea and want to turn it into a reality, read on for 10 easy steps to start your business.

What Do You Need To Start A Business?

Before you can get started setting up businesses, you need to be fully committed to your new venture. Setting up a new business takes a whole lot of drive and motivation to keep going through the various peaks and valleys. In addition to the actionable steps we’ll cover here, the mental commitment and preparation for starting a business is crucial. Don’t skip this step. Consider your willingness to take on the responsibility, stress, and time commitment necessary to see a business idea through. 

Research and seek out mentors who can help you turn your idea into a reality. No matter what industry you're in, there are successful people who have a lot of experience in that industry; and they like sharing the little secrets and tips on how to make it in their world. Seek out the wisdom of successful entrepreneurs by reading books on entrepreneurship for motivation and articles written by industry leaders. This can help you get into the right mindset to take the leap yourself and start your own business.

10 Steps To Start Your Business In 2022

Once you have done your research, you are ready to take the first steps to starting a business. These steps offer a basic roadmap for everything from coming up with a business idea to launching your new company. Here are 10 introductory steps to starting a business:

1. Pick your idea

Deciding on an idea is the first step in determining the likelihood of your business succeeding. To come up with a monetizable idea, consider your own experience and strengths. Do you have any skills that could be turned into a business? Have you noticed any gaps in the market that you know how to fill?

2. Perform market research

Before you move ahead with your idea, you want to make sure it’s actually profitable. A good starting point is to research how others in the same field are earning money and whether there’s a market for your idea. Even if you are entering a marketplace with other companies, your research can tell you how to differentiate yourself from the competition. You can offer lower prices, higher-quality products, or more convenient delivery.  Find a way to stand out and meet your customer’s needs.

3. Draw up a business plan

Next, you’ll need to create a business plan, which will guide you through the rest of your journey of starting a business.  A detailed business plan should include descriptions of your product or service and how it will benefit customers, as well as all of the market research you’ve done. This plan should be formatted with a table of contents and clear sections to make it easy for investors to navigate.

4. Decide on your business structure

Your business structure determines whether or not you will receive legal and financial protection as the founder of your business. A sole proprietorship is the easiest business structure to obtain, but it leaves you personally liable for the actions of your company. An LLC offers liability protection, which means that if someone sues your business, he or she cannot go after your personal assets. A corporation offers the highest degree of protection from lawsuits and other liabilities, but requires you to issue stock. This will give shareholders ownership over fractional shares of your company.

5. File the necessary paperwork

To get started, you’ll need to register your business with the state. You’ll need to get a state and federal tax ID number for your business, as well as any licenses and permits required by your state/city. This often varies due to industry, as food service businesses have their own requirements separate from other retail businesses.

6. Find investors

Now is the time to go out there and secure funding.  Before you start searching for investors, make an estimate of how much money your business will need. Don’t forget to include not only the cost of supplies and licenses, but also services that are essential to the success of your business such as legal advice. Once you have a number in mind, look for financing options such as grants, business loans, and angel investors. You can even look to friends and family members to invest in your business.

7. Purchase business insurance

Business insurance and liability coverage will protect you, your business, and your employees from unforeseen events. You’ll want to consider general liability insurance, business income insurance, professional liability coverage, and data breach coverage if you need coverage in those areas. You may also want commercial property insurance to cover any physical space you rent for your business.

8. Hire your team

Once you’ve got some seed money, hire a team to help launch your business. You may want a co-founder to help manage the day-to-day running of the business. Many businesses, regardless of industry, use IT professionals, marketing agents, and social media managers to help run their operations.

9. Start Marketing

When you start a business, you must establish a brand. Develop a logo, create a consistent voice and tone for all your marketing materials, and design a website that is both easy to navigate and visually appealing. A marketing agency can be a real asset to help you build a website and become active on social media. Once you’ve laid this groundwork, it’s time to launch.

10. Launch and scale

Launching your business is the beginning of a long and rewarding journey. You’ll need to scale your business and find new ways to grow if you want to start turning a profit. Keep your ear to the ground and listen to your customers' needs so that you can refine your products accordingly. You’ll also want to continue researching market trends and your competitors to make sure they aren’t outpacing you.

Now that you know all the right ways to start a business, you’re ready to get started. But just know that the most important step of all is defining your purpose. How will your business change people’s lives and add value? If you focus on this from the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll give your business the best chance of thriving.

Peter Drucker once said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it."

This quote can be encouraging when you're considering starting your own business; instead of focusing on what an entrepreneur should be, find out who you are and what your passion is.

How to start a business? The truth is that there are many things to consider when starting a business, but the best way to get started is to just do it. There are multiple myths about starting a business, you don't need to believe in.

When I first started out, I believed plenty of myths about businesses. Like many people, I thought that entrepreneurship was an incredibly hard skill to learn.

When I began working for myself, I realized that my goals were much more achievable than I had expected.

Building a business is challenging, but you don't have to know everything or have every aspect of your business planned out from the start.

The willingness to take action is the most important asset an entrepreneur can have.

7 Myths About Starting A Business And Entrepreneurship

A lot of people have a lot of wrong ideas about how to start a business. 

You may have heard that you can only think about how to start a business if you have money, or higher education, or a 20-page business plan. 

But none of those things are strictly necessary for starting a new business. If you have the drive and determination and motivation in entrepreneurship, you can succeed.

Here are 7 business myths that I’m here to correct:

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1. Only geniuses can start a business

Some entrepreneurs exaggerate their own expertise in starting a business by claiming that it takes a lot of knowledge.

While business savvy and a higher education certainly help you navigate the world of entrepreneurship, they’re hardly requirements.

The truth is that you don't have to know everything before you start a business but all you need is learning by doing.

The founder of Alibaba, Jack Ma, has an inspiring story of success despite failing his university entrance exam (twice).

After years of rejections and initial failures, he was able to build one of the world’s largest e-commerce conglomerates.

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2. You need to have a lot money to invest

When starting your own business, time is more powerful than money. 

While money is always helpful, many entrepreneurs started with nothing more than their services and skills. 

If you want to know how to start a business with no money, look to entrepreneurs like Michael Dell. 

He started with just $1,000 from his family, yet he was able to become one of the richest men in the world. So, don't believe one of the greatest myths about starting a business.

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3. You need to begin with a full business plan

A business plan is an asset, no doubt. But you don't need a ton of detail and a rigid structure to get started.

It's okay to begin with just a few initial steps and an overarching purpose to guide you through the beginning stages of your business.

Once you've gotten started, you'll get more information to fill in the blanks as you go along.

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4. There is a “right time” to start

Another famous one among the myths about starting a business is that too many entrepreneurs are paralyzed by the idea that they have to wait for the perfect time to start their business. Don't be one of them.

You always have reasons not to act–you don’t know enough, the market isn’t right, you’re not organized enough.

The truth is that waiting for the perfect conditions to start a business will never happen. The right time to get started is now!

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5. You need to hire a full staff

Many businesses need employees to help manage day-to-day operations.

But if you're just getting started, it's perfectly acceptable to work alone for some of the initial period.

You can take on many roles yourself, then hire freelancers to handle tasks as needed. Instead of hiring a full-time copywriter, outsource your web copy to a freelance writer.

You can keep your business lean by hiring part-time staff and contractors until the business has grown enough to warrant full-time employees.

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6. You should be ready to work around the clock

One of the biggest myths about starting a business is that if you want to be successful, you have to work 24/7.

The truth is that if you take on too much too fast, you're likely to burn out.

Quality work is much more important than quantity, especially when you know how to prioritize and focus on what's most important. 

Work smarter, not harder. Focus on high-impact tasks and delegate or delay the minor stuff.

If you spend 30 hours a week doing high-quality work, it's likely to get you farther than burning out after a grueling 60-hour workweek.

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7. You need to be an expert at marketing and branding

Taking one or two online marketing courses can be a great asset to starting a business.  However, it's not required to be successful.

If you know your customers and you have a clear goal, it’s possible to succeed without being an expert marketer.

Think about the value you want to provide your customers and use that as a guide. 

This will help you create a strong brand and connect with your audience.

When it comes to learning how to start a business, there's a lot of information out there. Some of it is good, and some of it is less than accurate.

In order for you to get up and running as efficiently as possible, it's important that you avoid these seven common myths when getting started in business. 

Don’t wait any longer to pursue your dream of entrepreneurship. I’ve reframed the myths that are likely keeping you from getting started, so there’s nothing left to stop you.

  Anyone can start a business but not everyone is able to push through the failures required to achieve success.

In my journey of becoming an entrepreneur, I’ve learned the most from my failures.

If you want to know how to start a business, you have to be ready to embrace your fears, be willing to fail, and learn from it.

When you're interviewing for a job, you'll often hear applicants boast about their “excellent interpersonal skills.”

But what exactly does it mean to have good interpersonal skills? And why are they such an asset in the workplace? 

The truth is, mastering interpersonal skills is certain to get you far in both your work and social life.

Interpersonal skills will make you a more effective communicator, help you to get people's attention and focus, and allow you to avoid conflicts that come your way.

The ability to communicate effectively with other people is a fundamental skill for everyone, whether you’re managing a team or starting an entry-level job.

In this blog, I’ll discuss what interpersonal skills are, why they’re so important at work, and the most important skills to develop.

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What Are Interpersonal Skills?

So, what are interpersonal skills? Interpersonal skills are your ability to communicate and interact effectively with people throughout your daily lives, including at work and in personal relationships.

They are essential to your success and happiness in everyday life, as well as valuable assets when you apply for a job or an internship.

These interpersonal skills are the behaviors, attitudes, and strategies that we use when working with other people and collaborating with your team.

Interpersonal skills are those that involve managing other people. Such skills include conflict resolution, active listening and working as part of a team.

They can also include emotional intelligence skills such as the ability to regulate stress and empathize with other people.

While some people are natural born experts, others have to practice in order to make these skills a habit.

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The Importance Of Interpersonal Skills

Practical skills such as coding and digital literacy are valuable in some professions, but interpersonal skills are applicable to every area of life.

If you’re an accountant, entrepreneur, or retail manager, the ability to work well with others will get you far in your career. 

Strong interpersonal skills are essential to resolving conflicts at the workplace with colleagues, friends and communicating more effectively with your romantic partner.

This will lead to less conflict, higher self-confidence, and greater productivity.

Types Of Interpersonal Skills

Interpersonal skills are basic competencies that relate to working with other people.

Here are seven examples of interpersonal skills that are valuable in the workplace:

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Communication

The principles of communication are the foundation of a strong interpersonal skill set.

Being articulate helps you pick up on important details and makes sure your message is never misconstrued. 

Communication can be broken down into two categories: verbal and nonverbal.

Verbal communication is a way of communicating with words. Good verbal communication includes being clear and direct while remaining respectful.

Nonverbal communication refers to the ways we communicate using our bodies, facial expressions, and gestures.

The best communicators are those who can read body language and pick up on other people’s nonverbal cues.

They are mindful of their own tone of voice and facial expressions, and they use these skills to interpret what others are saying.

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Public speaking

Public speaking is an offshoot of communication skills, but it’s important enough to deserve a section of its own. 

The ability to address a crowd is something that distinguishes good leaders from great ones. 

When you have the ability to command people’s attention, you can do things like lead an effective meeting or even make a persuasive speech to attract investors. 

Public speaking requires quite a bit of practice, as you’ll need to rehearse and plan out what you’re going to say ahead of time. 

It can take a while to build your way up into being a confident public speaker, but it’s a valuable tool in any leader’s arsenal.

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Conflict management

The ability to resolve conflict is another important interpersonal skill that every employee needs. 

Workplace disputes are a part of life, but being able to compromise and disagree respectfully are critical. 

Without the ability to remain levelheaded and look for common ground, you render yourself and your colleagues ineffective.

The ability to resolve conflicts between others is also an important interpersonal skill for leaders to have. 

If you can find the source of the conflict, make sure that each party has their say, and find ways to meet a common goal, you can create a more cohesive team.

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Listening

Active listening is an incredibly valuable interpersonal skill.

This refers to the ability to listen fully to another person without interruption, taking in the meaning of their words before formulating your own response which may become a listening barrier.

  It also may include verbal or nonverbal gestures of encouragement to show the speaker that you’re engaged.

A good listener asks clarifying questions and pays attention to the speaker’s body language while being mindful of their own.

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Empathy

Empathy is an important key to working with others.

If you can’t understand why people act or feel the way they do, then you’ll keep running into conflict when your opposing work styles clash.

  When you practice empathy, you take the time to learn how the other person operates so that you can meet them halfway. 

If you stop to consider how your actions will affect them, you might decide to switch tactics.

Being able to empathize allows you to anticipate their reactions and minimize resentment against people who work differently than you.

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Positivity

A positive attitude is hard to force, but it’s easy to learn. It takes time and effort to maintain a positive attitude through the stress and burnout of work.

Train yourself to look for the positive side of things and see challenges as opportunities.

With a positive mindset, you’ll find yourself less stressed and less likely to succumb to burnout.

You’ll also be easier to work with, as you won’t take your frustration out on others.

Positivity is contagious, and the more you train yourself to stay positive, the more you will encourage that mindset in your employees.

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Teamwork

The final interpersonal skill on the list is teamwork, which is a powerful skill for both employees and leaders. 

Whether you’re leading the team or not, it’s important to know how to work with others towards a common goal.

‍Teamwork and collaboration skills include the ability to compromise and delegate certain tasks to other people based on their unique strengths. 

If you tend to do everything yourself, you’ll need to learn how to let go of control and allow others to submit their own ideas. 

If you tend to shirk your responsibilities onto others, you’ll need to practice accountability to do your fair share of the work.

As you’ve read, interpersonal skills can play a very important role in your life. 

However, it’s important to learn how to use these skills in a way that will benefit you rather than harm you. 

These skills should help you support, inspire, and guide your fellow employees rather than manipulate or control them. 

As a leader, your job is to support the people you work with.  Interpersonal skills are your most valuable tool to be of service to the people around you.  

To keep improving your interpersonal skills, find opportunities to practice civil discourse on a regular basis. 

By actively listening, communicating honestly and respectfully, and maintaining your composure, you’ll be able to have difficult but necessary conversations. 

This ability will keep your interpersonal skills sharp and provide you with constant opportunities for growth.

Many organizations are working hard to create a culture where their employees can give and receive performance improvement feedback comfortably and kindly.

The feedback sandwich or “compliment sandwich” has long been recommended as a strategy for giving positive and negative feedback in management development and consulting.

The compliment sandwich method is an effective way to give feedback, but it isn’t the best approach for everyone.

It is a good way to provide constructive criticism, but it’s not the best approach for everyone.

Some people might find the structure of the sandwich confusing, especially if the person giving feedback misapplies it.

It helps to know when it’s the right time to put it to use. In this article, I’ll go over the pros and cons of this type of feedback as well as a few hot tips on how to deliver it effectively.

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What Is A Feedback Sandwich?

Just as a sandwich filled with tasty ingredients is made with positive feedback between two slices of bread, a feedback sandwich is made with negative feedback between two pieces of positive feedback.

The idea behind this method is to give criticism after praise in a way that makes it easier to hear negative feedback and more likely to be accepted by the employee receiving the feedback.

A compliment sandwich is a great way to provide feedback because it allows you to deliver your thoughts without offending or upsetting the person you’re giving feedback to.

It also helps you provide a very clear and constructive criticism, which is often much more effective than simply trying to tear something down (“That was terrible!!”)

When giving feedback, it’s important to make sure the person you’re talking to is receptive. 

The feedback sandwich helps with this by beginning with positive feedback, then mentioning a piece of negative feedback, then ending on a positive note.

Pros And Cons Of The Feedback Sandwich Method

Like any method of communication, the sandwich method of feedback has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Check out these pros and cons to see whether or not this method is appropriate for you.

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Benefits Of The Feedback Sandwich

It makes negative feedback easier to hear.

The biggest benefit of the feedback sandwich is that it softens the emotional impact of criticism. 

No one likes to be told what they’re doing wrong even the most confident employee can start second-guessing themselves if they receive too much negative feedback. 

By pairing the negative with the positive, you remind employees that their strengths vastly outweigh their weaknesses. 

This can help them maintain perspective when being shown areas of improvement.

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It makes negative feedback easier to give.

Just as no one likes to be criticized, very few people like to give criticism. It takes a certain amount of objectivity and detachment to be able to tell another human being that they’re doing something wrong.

  Even people whose job it is to critique other people can struggle with giving negative feedback on a consistent basis. 

The feedback sandwich makes it easier to provide open and honest feedback by giving you an opportunity to focus on the good as well as the bad. 

This can train you to become more adept at identifying areas of improvement in an objective manner. 

It also helps you to acknowledge people’s strengths at the same time.

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It reminds employees of their strengths.

Human nature causes us to focus on our own shortcomings and take our strengths for granted.

On any given day, we’ll remember the one thing we did wrong over the 20 things we did right. 

Compliment sandwiches boost our self-esteem by reminding us on a regular basis of the areas in which we shine. 

This confidence boost makes it easier to believe that we have the ability to overcome our weaknesses and grow no matter what.

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It allows things to end on a positive note.

People tend to remember the way something ended much more strongly than how it began, which is why it’s important to end every meeting on a positive note. 

The sandwich allows you to part on good terms, which makes the person receiving feedback much more inclined to act on it rather than ignore it. 

When you make the compliment sandwich the standard form of communication, you train your employees to expect positive feedback instead of anticipating constant criticism.

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It strengthens the tunnel of communication.

Communication skills are one of the most important tools in our lives. Whether we’re communicating with a boss, a colleague, or a partner, open and honest communication is necessary for a functional relationship. 

When you’re too afraid to give negative feedback or you’re overly critical, you risk harming your relationships. 

The feedback sandwich makes you a better communicator. It shows your employees that you will always be honest and they can be honest in return.

Drawbacks Of The Feedback Sandwich

It can sometimes come across as unclear.

One of the potential downsides of the feedback sandwich is that it can potentially cause confusion.

 It requires three clearly defined segments, but poor communicators can often blur the lines between the compliments and the criticisms. 

This leads an employee to hear something like “You’re doing great, except you really aren’t, although maybe it’s not so bad.”

Make sure that your compliment sandwich is clearly defined, specific, and most of all, actionable.

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It can spoil positive feedback.

Another potential downside of the feedback sandwich is that it can ruin any positive feedback you’re looking to give. 

If you only ever give such feedback, you might inadvertently train people to think that every compliment you give is hiding a secret criticism. 

The goal of the feedback is to soften the blow of negative criticism, not weaken positive feedback.

Make an effort to give out positive feedback on its own every now and then. 

This will remind people that sometimes, you really have nothing but good things to say.

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It can appear disingenuous.

It’s important to choose significant pieces of feedback to use as the individual ingredients. 

If both of your compliments are weak, then they’ll only add insult to injury when you deliver the criticism. 

For example, imagine if the feedback sandwich you received was:

• Thank you for always being on time!

• Your work is seriously subpar and if you don’t improve, we may need to fire you.

• You always dress professionally.

While this is an extreme example, do you see how the positive feedback pales in comparison to the negative? 

If your work is so subpar, who cares how you dress?

  Each piece of feedback should be roughly equal in comparison, otherwise the person receiving it is going to feel manipulated.

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It may not translate cross-culturally.

Cultural differences may prevent the compliment sandwich from being truly effective. While such feedback has many strengths, it is primarily suitable for the Western style of communication.

  Americans are used to hearing feedback in a certain way, while employees from other cultures may interpret the information in a totally different manner. 

You want to avoid confusion at all costs with the feedback sandwich, otherwise you risk creating distrust in your employees. 

Test the waters to see how it impacts each of your employees.

If you can tell it’s not working, you might want to try a different method of communication with that person.

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It can increase anxiety among employees.

This drawback is primarily dependent on how confidently you deliver the compliment sandwich.

If you’re nervous, stumbling over your words, or speaking in riddles, then you’ll only make things worse for the person getting the feedback. 

Try practicing the feedback sandwich by yourself before testing it out for the first time.

If you like, you can write down bullet points to refer to during your meeting so you stay on track. 

As long as you’re communicating clearly, respectfully, and with empathy, then you’ll be sure to pull off the sandwich effectively.

Tips On How A Feedback Sandwich Can Work Effectively

If you’re considering adopting the sandwich method of feedback, then it’s more important to understand how to do it effectively.

Here are a few tips to consider when giving a compliment sandwich:

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Give constructive criticism

While a feedback sandwich does allow for negative feedback, this should be tailored in a way to be as constructive as possible. 

“You’re doing terribly” is not only vague, it’s unhelpful. All criticism should be clear and constructive, leaving the recipient with clear direction on how to move forward. 

For example, “Your work is sloppy and unprofessional” could be delivered as “I’d like to see a more polished product. 

Perhaps you could spend more time on the review process before turning things in, or let us know if you need an extension on the deadline.” 

This is clear and constructive, making it easier for the recipient to change their behavior to meet your needs.

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Make additional suggestions for improvement

Don’t be afraid to make suggestions on what changes the recipient can make to improve. Sometimes people need extra guidance in order to learn from constructive criticism. 

By providing the person with a few ideas on how to improve, you give them an opportunity to show you that they’ve heard your feedback and they’re taking steps to change their behavior. 

That way, if they try your suggestions and still don’t meet their goals, you can then work together to give them the tools they need to succeed.

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Have a strategy prepared ahead of time

It’s easy to lose track of things during the discussion and veer off course. Nothing derails a compliment sandwich more than rambling about something off-topic. 

Try to have a plan drawn out ahead of time for what you’re going to say, and include opportunities for the person to respond. 

You might want to consider the different ways they’ll respond and come up with your own way of dealing with that.

  For example, if your criticism is about lateness, you might anticipate that they’ll have questions about how often they’ve been late and by how long. 

Having this information on hand ahead of time can make the process easier to navigate.

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Practice civil discourse

Civil discourse is a powerful tool designed to have difficult conversations in an open and respectful manner.

What’s more difficult than telling someone what they’re doing wrong? 

To practice civil discourse, make sure you give both sides ample opportunity to speak. 

Don’t interrupt the other person when they’re speaking, and listen carefully to what they say before formulating your own response.

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Practice active listening

Active listening is another great tool to make the feedback method easier. When the person asks questions about your feedback, listen mindfully and closely to what they’re saying. 

You may come in with an idea of what negative feedback you want to give, but then something they say makes you realize you had things all wrong.

  Be open to input from the feedback recipient and you might find that you’ll come to a solution together.

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What Do Real Life Feedback Sandwich Situations Look Like?

Feedback sandwiches don’t always work out in certain real life situations.

Some people have selective perception where they tune out the negative feedback and only hear the positives. 

For example, let’s say you give someone such feedback:

• You’re always so dependable.

• You need to keep me in the loop with updates about work projects.

• You have an excellent attitude.

If the employee has selective perception, they might not understand the negative criticism in the middle. 

You may want better communication about work projects, but all they’ve heard is how dependable they are and what a great attitude they have. 

Try to make sure your negative criticism is distinct from the positive feedback, and that it doesn’t contradict it.

The feedback sandwich can be a great tool for making constructive criticism a natural part of the workday.

Consider these tips to see whether or it meets to your needs.

One of the best paths forward in your career is to develop your career skills. 

While the skills you need might vary from job to job, there are certain skills that will serve you well no matter where you go.

Career skills are the ones that help you perform well in a particular field, while transferable skills are those that can be used in other fields.

When you are looking to maximize your worth as an employee, it is important to focus on building a few transferable career skills.

This way, even if you change careers in the future, none of your effort will have gone to waste.

In my journey to become an entrepreneur, I’ve acquired a variety of skills that have helped me find success. 

In this blog, I will discuss the career skills that I think will help you the most on your journey and explain how you can start developing them today.

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What Career Skills Do Companies Appreciate Most?

Different jobs require different sets of skills. As a barber, you’ll need to understand the best way to cut hair and how to deal with customers.

As an accountant, you’ll need to know how to read financial statements. It may seem like there's no overlap between these two jobs, but there is!

The ability to work well with others and good problem-solving skills are two skills that will help you in almost any career and make you a more valuable employee.

Here are some elements you should work on to advance your career skills:

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Interpersonal skills

Most jobs require you to work with others. The company wants to know that when they bring you on board, you will be able to work as part of a team. 

Not everyone works well together, so companies usually try to seek out candidates that align with their company values and vibe well with the rest of the team. 

When you have strong interpersonal skills and value teamwork and collaboration, you’ll be able to fit into a new team with ease.

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Interpersonal skills include:

• Being accountable for your share of the work

• Being willing to brainstorm ideas with other people

• Sharing credit with a team instead of receiving sole praise

• Letting go of your own ideas in favor of the group’s decision

• Strong and effective communication with others

• Being willing to give and receive constructive feedback from peers

• Being able to practice active listening and refraining from interrupting

• Showing Respect to cultural differences and opposing ideas or values

• Acting professionally and responsibly

• Making ethical choices

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Leadership skills

Many jobs entail working with leaders who direct other people. 

Some people take naturally to this, while others balk at the idea of telling someone what to do.

Leadership styles vary greatly, and it takes a solid set of leadership skills to bring out the best in your employees without alienating or controlling them.

These leadership skills include:

• Being able to delegate tasks

• Managing multiple people at the same time

• Assessing other people’s strengths and dividing responsibilities accordingly

• Creative problem solving

• Resolving disputes and mediating conflict

• Creating schedules 

• Training new employees

• Motivating and instructing employees

• Providing positive and negative feedback on a regular basis

• Hosting meetings and fielding questions and complaints

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Communication skills

Some of the most important skills to improve at work are communication skills. 

You will be better able to communicate with your colleagues, superiors, employees, and clients when you pay attention to this career development skill. 

This is one of the hardest career development skills to fully master but you’ll improve the more you practice.

Communication skills include:

• Being mindful of your body language

• Learning to interpret nonverbal communication

• Practicing active listening

• Practicing civil discourse

• Speaking clearly and concisely

• Asking follow up questions to clarify

• Speaking honestly yet respectfully

• Providing constructive feedback

• Being receptive to negative feedback

• Proofreading written communication

• Being willing to speak up and offer ideas

• Networking with others

• Negotiating with clients

• Public speaking and leading presentations

• Having collaboration skills 

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Self-discipline skills

The ability to regulate yourself when it comes to your career is an important skill.

Many people are good at managing others, but they struggle with their own productivity and self-discipline.

Having the discipline to show up for your job and create your own schedule will help you get ahead in a competitive work environment.

Self-discipline skills include:

• Creating and sticking to a routine

• Holding yourself accountable

• Setting goals for yourself

• Meeting work deadlines

• Holding up under pressure

• Concealing stress while working with customers

• Showing initiative and going above and beyond

• Prioritizing tasks in order of importance

• Outsourcing or delegating if necessary

• Being self-motivating and bouncing back from failures

• Practicing self-care and avoiding burnout

• Multi-tasking effectively

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Conflict management skills

Conflict is one of life's unavoidable elements, but the ability to navigate and value conflict will set you apart from other employees.

Companies look for employees who can manage conflict and resolve disputes between themselves and other people.

Not only is this a sign of a good leader, but it's also the sign of a good team player. Conflict management skills include:

• Maintaining an even temper and a civil demeanor

• Mindful listening and refraining from interrupting

• Having an open mind

• Being willing to compromise

• Keeping a positive mindset focused on the solution

• Mediating conflict between other people

• Finding creative ways to compromise

• Promptly admitting and taking ownership of where you were wrong

• Practicing civil discourse to discuss sensitive topics

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Personal improvement skills

Companies want employees who are interested in growing their careers and taking on new responsibilities.

One of the best ways to do this is by having the ability to take initiative.

If you’re constantly focused on personal improvement and self-development, then you will be a more attractive candidate and position yourself for promotions or raises.

Good personal improvement skills to improve at work are:

• Being open to feedback

• Seeking out mentors

• Taking direction from others

• Personal initiative

• Going above and beyond instead of doing the bare minimum

• Seeking additional training and outside education

• Setting short and long-term goals for yourself

• Reflecting on past experiences

• Treating obstacles as learning opportunities

• Exploring innovative ways to enhance productivity and efficiency

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Adaptability skills

It's in your best interest to be able to roll with the punches. Being adaptable can help you survive in a constantly changing work environment, where you have to deal with new and stressful situations regularly. 

If you can adapt to new and stressful situations, then you prove your ability to do your job under pressure and problem-solve.

Some adaptability skills include:

• Coping with stress

• Avoiding indecisions

• Being willing to change your routine to match the current circumstances

• Supporting and informing your team of any updates

• Being willing to take on new training

• Dealing with last-minute problems

• Maintaining grace under pressure

• Shifting priorities as needed

• Accepting and incorporating new feedback

• Asking for additional help when needed

How To Develop Career Skills

Now that you know which skills you’ll need to be successful in your career, how do you acquire them? Are they innate?

The answer differs based on the skill. While some skills are innate and don’t need to be learned, others must be practiced regularly.

You may find that you have certain skills and traits that you will never possess, no matter how hard you work at them. 

For example, you might find that networking will never be your strong suit, although you do well at one-on-one interactions. 

Even if you don’t become as skilled as some of your fellow colleagues, a bit of growth can take you a long way.

One of the best ways to improve your interpersonal skills is through practice. 

The more time you spend working with other people, the easier it will be to work as a team and adjust to different personalities. 

Leadership skills can be tough to cultivate without a leadership position, but you can improve by taking courses or reading books on leadership.

Communication skills are another set of skills best improved through practice, both in and out of a work setting. 

Developing self-discipline and personal growth skills will take some effort outside of work.

Practicing mindfulness, choosing an accountability buddy, and seeking out mentors can help you develop these skills.

Adaptability is one of the most difficult skills to improve. A lot of people find it hard to become flexible.

They’re too attached to their routines. The best way to improve in this area is to try something new every once in a while. 

Try doing things differently, and allow yourself to fail as you venture into unknown territory.

Learning these career development skills isn’t always easy, but it’s worth the effort. 

Some skills will take years to learn while others will be easier to pick up; it all depends on how well you apply yourself.

‍Self-improvement will help you focus on your strengths and mitigate your weaknesses, you will grow faster in your career.

If you’re looking for help to get started, try taking an online course or joining a group. You’ll learn new skills and meet others who can support your learning.

How to create a startup? The key to successful startups is having a good idea, but there’s more to the process than meets the eye.

An "aha" moment is the beginning of a genius startup idea, but it's certainly not the end.

Ask any successful entrepreneur: coming up with great startup ideas can be challenging, rewarding, and a little overwhelming.

The makeup of any great startup idea is creativity, a standout product, and a dedicated founder and motivated entrepreneur.

I'm a three-time founder, and I've learned a lot about the ideation, iteration, and execution processes of startup ideas. Here is some of what I've learned so far on my journey through entrepreneurship.

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How To Create A Startup

If you’re ready to launch your own successful startup company in 2023, it’s time to go over how to build a startup.

Here are the 10 steps to learn how to create a startup:

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1. Consider your skills

Each of us have different strengths and weaknesses. If you’re planning on seeing your company all the way to launch, you’ll need to identify what entrepreneurial skills you have that will help you succeed.

  For example, passion, self-discipline, and the ability to motivate others are all great assets which will help you learn how to build startup.

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2. Choose an idea

All startups begin with an idea. You can find your business idea by looking at what you’re already good at. For example, maybe you’re an excellent cook and you want to start a meal prep business. 

You can also identify any gaps in the marketplace that need filling. If you’re troubled by the amount of food waste in the world, create a startup that addresses that issue.

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3. Create a business plan

Your business plan can be formal or informal, just so long as it lays out all the important aspects of your journey along the way. 

This should include aspects like the problem, how your startup solves it, and who your customers are. You’ll also want to include factors like infrastructure, revenue models, and cost models.

Once you’re pursuing investors, you’ll need to provide them with a formal business plan. It is the roadmap to know how to build startup that will initiate interest.

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4. Build a team

Startups have the best chance of success with more players at the table. You’ll want to build a team of like-minded people who bring their own advantages that help the startup grow. 

For example, you’ll want co-founders who have experience in the industry you’re entering or with creating a startup in general. 

To find co-founders, you can try networking with other entrepreneurs at local events and gather a supporting team.

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5. Establish your startup

This is a step with many individual tasks that define what exactly your startup is going to be. 

Here you’ll name your startup, choose a formal or informal business structure, and choose a physical location. 

You’ll also need to do all of the due diligence of registering and obtaining the necessary licenses and permits.

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6. Secure funding

So, how to build startup? The main points you need to care about includes finances. You can’t run a startup without money. At this step in the process, you’ll need to determine all of your startup costs before pursuing funding. 

Once you have a number in mind, you can get funding through:

• Bootstrapping

• Crowdfunding

• Angel investors

• Venture capitalists

• Friends and family

• Business loans

• Business credit cards

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    7. Set up accounting

Once you’ve begun to secure funding, establish an accounting system to manage these finances.

This can be anything from using an accountant, a bookkeeper, or small business accounting software.

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8. Begin marketing your brand

Marketing is how you’ll get your startup off the ground, so it’s important to come up with your own unique brand. 

Design a logo, build a personalized website, and start working on a social media presence. 

Begin writing press releases to start generating buzz about your company.

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9. Hire your team

You’ll need roles like a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Marketing Director.

  Depending on what service you provide, you’ll likely also need roles such as a Product Developer/Engineer and Head of Sales. 

You’ll be able to find people to fill these roles through recruitment agencies and online job boards in your industry.

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10. Launch away

Now is the time to launch your company and begin making sales. But just because you’ve launched doesn’t mean the work is finished–you need to be prepared to constantly adapt to changes. 

This means keeping up with market trends and continuing to expand your business. You should constantly be looking for growth opportunities both internal and external. 

Come up with strategies to motivate growth and define where you’d like your company to go.

My Startup Journey

When I was coming up with the ideas for my startups, I asked myself what the world needed and what I had to offer. It's about learning how to create a startup and succeed.

So, I founded The Doe (now Nota)  to be the world’s first anonymous digital publication because I noticed a real need to restore civil discourse during my time at Huffington Post.  

I also founded Audo to help provide Gen Z with the tools they need to become skilled workers because I believed in investing in our future. 

My sister and I co-founded Guin Music to provide a sustainable record label conglomerate that puts artists before anything else.

Each of these companies was born from a specific need and related to something I was passionate and knowledgeable about. 

To come up with your own idea for a startup, you’ll want to ask yourself what’s needed in the world and what kind of business you feel capable of building.  

Here are a few ideas to help you on your way:

• Create educational content

• Start a drop-shipping business

• Sell subscription boxes

• Build a local grocery delivery service

• Make custom clothing

• Create online courses

• Develop an app

• Open a food truck

• Make a smart appliance

• Create a zero-waste product

These ideas and the steps above should give you a taste of how to build a startup. If you can spot a good idea and have the resources to make it happen, the sky’s the limit. Get the idea and you will learn how to create a startup to deliver true value.

Ideas can come out of nowhere, suddenly with a Eureka! Either they come through hard work, built like a sturdy cabin, log by log.

In the best startup examples, they do both: the idea is a brilliant flash then improved through hard work.

The "aha moment" never happens without a certain amount of groundwork. That's what this blog is about -creating a business that's both original and feasible. 

How to start a business? Starting a business from scratch can be a long and difficult process that requires dedication, hard work and time.

If you’re willing to put in the work, then I can help you learn how to build a business of your very own.  I’ll go over everything you need to know about starting a business to help guide you on your path.

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Ask Yourself Why You Want To Start A Business

Before you can learn how to start a business, you need to know why you’re doing it.  Every business should begin with an idea and a purpose.  

You have to ask yourself: why are you doing it? What's motivating you? Is it just the money, or something else?

Is this the right time for you in your life to start a business,  and why is it right?

Is there something else keeping you from starting a business right now, and what would it take to get rid of that obstacle?

There are multiple answers as to why you might start a business, but you have to know yours.  Some examples of a business “why” could be:

• To make a difference in the world/your community

• To help people reach their dreams

• To fight climate change

• To fulfill an unmet need

Once you know what motivates you and what you want, you can get started learning what it takes to start your own business.

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Steps To Starting A Business From Scratch

• Choose an idea

The first step to starting a business is coming up with an idea. 

This can be anything you want it to be as long as it fulfills a real need, has the potential to make money, and fits your interests and skill set. 

To come up with the idea for your business, ask yourself what skills you have and whether you’re interested in the niche you’re considering.

• Do your research

To start your own business, you must perform market research to see whether your idea has the potential to turn into a successful business. 

Make sure there is demand for your product/service in your area and that there is not significant competition.

This preliminary research will also help you get to know your customers and their needs.

• Write a business plan

If you want to know how to start a business, your first step should be making a business plan which is your road map to success. The more detailed your plan, the more organized you will be as you begin your business.

Your business plan which can also follow the idea of creating a startup should include descriptions of your product/services and how they benefit customers.

It should also include market analysis and an analysis of other companies in competition with yours.

• Choose a business structure

The legal and financial protection you receive as the founder of your business depends on the structure of your business.

The three most common structures are sole proprietorship, limited liability company (LLC) and corporation.

• Sole proprietorships require no formal filing with the state or federal government but leave you fully personally liable for any claims brought against your business.  

• Limited liability companies offer protection from personal liability, but they require you to file articles of organization with the state or pay an annual fee for a registered agent service.  

• Corporations are most appropriate for large companies or publicly traded businesses because they allow the owners to sell shares of stock to investors.

• Get the paperwork in order

There is a lot of paperwork to file when starting a business. You’ll need to register with the state and get a state and federal tax ID number, as well as pick up the necessary licenses and permits for your business.

  For example, if you run a food service business in Los Angeles, you’ll be subject to Los Angeles laws governing businesses in LA and food service businesses in general.

• Consider your costs

To get started on the path to raising money, figure out how much of it you’ll need. Start by making a list of the cost of all the physical supplies, professional services, and licenses or permits you’ll need.

Try to determine how much money you’ll need to cover six months of operating expenses, as this will help you get off the ground so you can start making money.

• Acquire funding

Once you have a business plan and projected costs, start pursuing investors. Investors can come from friends and family, angel investors, business loans, grants or local funding.

Open a private business account to conduct all business transactions separately from your personal ones.

• Get business insurance

Protect yourself and your business by insuring it against the many things that can go wrong.

  Businesses need general liability insurance, business income insurance, data breach coverage, and professional liability coverage. 

If you have a physical space, you may want commercial property insurance to pay for damages to your building or any equipment you have.

• Hire a team

You can’t do it all alone. When building a business from scratch, you need to assemble a team of people to help you manage the launch as well as the daily operations.

Depending on the size of your business, you may need to hire roles such as graphic designers, social media managers, marketing agents, and IT professionals and reach your goals while supporting your team’s growth.

You may also want a co-founder to help you run the business and manage the day-to-day requirements.

• Market your business

Once you're ready to launch your business, it's time to start getting the word out. 

You will need a brand logo and a consistent voice, tone, and messaging with all of your marketing. 

Hiring a marketing agency can help guide your efforts to establish a social media presence.  Regardless if you sell online or not, it is vital to have a solid website for your business.

• Launch and grow

Now that you've done the footwork, the real work begins. After you launch, keep promoting your business and refining your product until it meets customers' needs.

In order to beat out the competition, you'll need to keep investing time and money into staying ahead of market trends and looking for ways to scale up.

This is not an exhaustive list of what it takes to get a new business off the ground and gain traction, but it lays out the key points you'll need to consider as you put your business idea into action.

Building a company requires passion and commitment, as you'll have to put in long hours with little to no payoff in the beginning stages.

Those who don't have a genuine passion for what they're building won't last.

New business owners often lose entrepreneurship motivation after their initial burst of enthusiasm, which is why regular routines and habits are essential to maintaining productivity.

Set yourself up for success and the path to building your own business will be much smoother.

It’s crazy to think that we, as humans, have been expressing our creative side for thousands of years. The oldest cave paintings (that we know of) date all the way back to the Prehistoric Age. Now, human-produced AI and algorithms are capable of creating their own art. Thus, the creators of art have now become the creators of the creators of art. However, there are still many things that AI simply cannot do. Even with how quickly automation and other AI tech are advancing, I sincerely believe that they will never fully replace human beings in the realm of art.That said, I’m a huge proponent of further research & development in AI. I even use AI to better some of my businesses. At The Doe, we conduct cutting-edge evaluations through AI; by utilizing natural language processing (NPL) and other technologies in our user quizzes, we help our readers better understand differing values and perspectives. However, just because AI is useful doesn’t mean it offers a solution to every problem. After all, if I want to hear a great song, I don’t ask Siri to sing something for me.

Art Is a Distinctly Sentient Process

I don’t want to offend any bots that might be reading this, but art has always been something created by (and for) sentient beings. Humans (and maybe even a few other species) have the unique capacity to feel emotions and produce things with intent. That is to say, we can make things not just out of necessity, but also out of desire. More often than not, it is the desire to make something of beauty.Whether it’s a poem, a song, a painting, a digital NFT, or something else entirely, humans have the unique ability to create things with intention. We want to enjoy them. If we produce art for the sake of others (as is often the case), then we want them to be enjoyed, or at the very least, appreciated.As a writer and music producer, I have a special place in my heart for my fellow scribes and musicians. Writers use their linguistic abilities to create beautiful prose, informative articles, entertaining scripts, and profound stories. On the other hand, musicians use a combination of senses to create intricate melodies and harmonies, beats that seem to reach directly into your soul and make your body move, as well as completely new sounds that have never been heard before. While technology may help many artists practice their craft, it’s hard to imagine an algorithm producing Sylvan LaCue’s “Clam Chowda” or penning David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas.

Artificial Intelligence Merely Replicates Human Intelligence

As it stands now, Artificial Intelligence really has no ground to stand on when it comes to creative intent. We currently have no formal way to measure sentience, but since humans created AI tech and we know (with near certainty) that it does not have a consciousness, we can conclude that an AI robot is not sentient — at least, not under current definitions of the term.Thus, AI is only able to replicate human intelligence and behavior. A robot can appear to feel sad, but that does not mean that it actually feels sad. Similarly, a robot can be programmed to create a beautiful work of art, but in this instance, who is the real artist? The human who wrote the algorithm or the robot that carried out the directive according to a specific formula? I would say the human, as the robot is merely a tool in the artistic process, rather than the creative mind behind it.

Even If AI Can Rival Certain Sentient Qualities, It Cannot Replace Human Creativity

In any case, there’s no doubt that AI is constantly evolving and improving, so how can I be so sure that AI will never fully replace human-made art? Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that AI evolves to the point that it is virtually indistinguishable from human beings. By all accounts, we have created a sentient robot with the capacity to feel, think, react, and create things from scratch with vision and intention. In short, I’m imagining a future in which AI can create art on its own, without any help or guidance from human beings.Even in this hypothetical future, human-made art would still remain distinct from AI-produced art. This is because every human consciousness is its own entity; we may have collective qualities and properties as sentient beings, but we are all individuals living our own little lives. Thus, human art will always be a reflection of human creativity that is unique to each person, and to our species as a whole. AI tech may evolve to produce its own art forms, but they will exist separately from what we create.So, even as fearmongers worry about robots writing news articles or algorithms creating hit songs, human art will always have its own space. We may not always be able to tell the difference between human and AI creations, but this fact is largely irrelevant. As long as humans never lose our capacity to exercise creativity and produce things of beauty, no robot will be able to take that away from us.

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We’ve been hearing about 5G for a while now, even though the vast majority of consumers still can’t access it. Currently, 5G-ready devices are priced pretty high, and ISPs are each scrambling to market themselves as “the” leader in 5G coverage — just like they did with 3G and 4G. While 3G brought us basic mobile web browsing and 4G brought us high-speed mobile internet and streaming, 5G technology promises to kick things up a notch.

Thus far, consumers and media outlets have mostly focused on the promised speeds that will come with 5G — and for good reason. Theoretically, 5G could be up to 10x faster than 4G, though some reports indicate that people might get speeds nearly 100x faster than what they have now. To put this in real-world terms, this means you could be able to download a 2-hour, 4K Ultra HD movie in a matter of seconds.

However, the true potential of 5G isn’t the potential speed — it’s the accessibility. If you’ve ever traveled beyond the realm of your home Wi-Fi network (as I’m sure you have), you’ll know that wireless mobile signals vary drastically. This is especially problematic in rural towns, states, and even regions, where ISPs have invested very little in the way of infrastructure.

While people in rural areas should have the same speeds as everyone else, it’s hard to blame ISPs for their priorities; they simply can’t get the same return on investment setting up mobile internet towers in Cheyenne, Wyoming (population ~65,000) as they can in New York City (population ~8.42 million). Fortunately, 5G will make leaps and bounds in terms of high-speed mobile internet access for everyone — not just big-city dwellers.

Why is 5G so much better?

A big problem with 4G is network congestion. Sure, you can watch a movie on the train ride to work, but when thousands of other people are trying to do the same thing, you’ll often find yourself with a blank loading screen — even when you’ve got full bars. This is due to the fact that 4G has, by and large, reached its data-processing limits. As 4G became the norm for billions of people around the planet, it also showcased the technology’s inability to quickly transfer increasingly large amounts of data across blocks of spectrum. With 5G, this is no longer an issue.

5G will open the door for ISPs to control more spectrum, thereby allowing more people to use the same network simultaneously without reduced speeds. On top of that, 5G tech is inherently built to deliver faster speeds, lower latency, and greater bandwidth by default. In other words, 5G will make everything you do online faster and easier.

But again, I’m doing the same thing that everyone else does — talking about speed when I should be talking about ease of access. Detractors have already tempered expectations about 5G’s capabilities in rural areas, which are mostly served by low-frequency towers. Since 5G is designed to function at mid-to-high frequencies, it will have less of an impact at the outset. However, the greater efficiency of 5G technology means that it could still provide less congestion and nominal speed improvements in rural areas.

Moreover, this is just what we can expect over the next 2 or 3 years. Beyond that, 5G infrastructure will likely make accessibility to higher-quality mobile (and home) internet even better. Plus, there’s another important factor that people need to keep in mind. In rural areas, most people are accustomed to unstable internet and mobile networks that deliver paltry speeds at best. Even a small uptick in average speeds and network access could make a huge difference to billions of people in underserved areas all over the world.

What does 5G mean for entrepreneurs?

There’s a reason why many young entrepreneurs leave behind their small hometowns and move to the big city to start their business endeavors. While it may be the “chic” thing to do, it’s also a sound business decision. Nowadays, most businesses are completely dependent on the internet. As a result, entrepreneurs need access to high-speed internet whether they’re working from home or just checking emails on the go. This means that mid-size and large cities are home to the vast majority of new businesses.

While this may just sound like the cost of doing business in the modern world, it also means that there’s a huge barrier to entry for entrepreneurs in rural areas who don’t have the funds to relocate to more expensive cities. Not only does this force many people to abandon their dreams, but it also robs the world of great potential. The next Bill Gates could be living in a small village in Africa, but without access to high-speed internet, he or she may never be able to show the world their true potential.

This is exactly why I’m excited about 5G. Sure, it stands to give the average consumer access to better quality mobile and home internet service, but it really means so much more than that. Once 5G infrastructure grows and 5G-ready devices become the norm (as opposed to the latest high-priced phones), billions of people across the planet will have the power of high-speed internet wherever they are, opening the door for almost limitless innovation. It may take a few years before we see the full effects of 5G, particularly in rural areas, but for many new and existing entrepreneurs, it will be well worth the wait.

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An Ever-Evolving Industry

The music industry is changing rapidly, with new avenues arising for both creators and consumers every day. This begs the question: What will the music industry look like in the future?As the cofounder of an indie record label, I’ve watched many of the most recent changes happen in real time. Despite only working in the business for a few years, we’ve had to constantly adapt to new trends — both in music creation and consumption. While musicians can largely continue creating music as they have for years, the way in which they market their music and reach their audience is always changing.It’s easy to see how the music industry is evolving at an ever-increasing speed. Though SoundCloud has been around for more than a decade and is still one of the biggest players when it comes to discovering new, emerging artists, TikTok has emerged as a popular application for both creators and consumers. First introduced in 2016, the video-centric social media application has taken the music world by storm. Many new artists have gained huge followings on the application and, despite the Trump administration previouslyattempting to ban TikTokciting national security concerns, it has remained one of the most popular avenues for free music distribution, particularly among Gen Z consumers.In a sense, this is the future of the music industry. Whether you look at it from year to year or month to month, the ability to adapt back-end strategies is a must. However, one aspect of music marketing that has become increasingly relevant in the late 2010s and early 2020s is what I like to refer to as the “scandal factor.” You can create great music and garner a following as musicians have done for decades, but if you want to make it big in such a fickle and ephemeral landscape, you have to turn the dial up to 11.What does this actually mean in practice? It not only means doing something that no one else has done — it means doing something that shocks, polarizes and ultimately shifts the download and streaming data in your favor.Lil Nas X provides a perfect example of a musician where controversy has garnered attention and helped build his musical brand. He first turned heads by teaming up with Billy Ray Cyrus to create the highly popular and oddly catchy “Old Town Road,” a mixture of traditional country and modern rap that exploded on Twitter. The following year, Lil Nas Xpublicly came outin 2019, which in and of itself, shouldn’t have been controversial. However, it made him a mainstream gay male rapper — a rapper with a country hit who has attained international success. Lil Nas X capitalized further on this “controversy” with hismusic video for the hit single, “Montero,” which evoked images of the Garden of Eden before showing a fictionalized version of Lil Nas X twerking on Satan’s lap. While many saw it as an ode to the freedom of sexuality, manyconservatives decried it as blasphemous. However, regardless of how you felt about it, the controversy only put more money in the rapper’s pocket.This desire for increasingly shocking material doesn’t just exist in the music industry, either. The old modes of building brands — from political campaigns to retail shops — are falling by the wayside, with new players driven by clicks, streams, downloads, retweets and so on. Social media, particularly TikTok, Twitter and Youtube, might be the primary facilitator (for now), but the desire for controversy and virality are what underpin modern success. To be noticed, you have to do something worthy of people’s attention — which often means doing something completely unexpected. I learned this first hand by building the first completely anonymous publication. By allowing people to write for us anonymously, we get juicer, much more “controversial” perspectives. We’ve seen how the “scandal factor” of the narratives we publish on The Doe can lead to virality on social media like Instagram.Some artists may not like this data-obsessed way of creating, but there’s nothing inherently new about it. Musicians — and their labels — have been motivated by profits, usually above all else. Now, profits are largely calculated using algorithms and data provided by online platforms. Therefore, the environment for music creation and consumption may have changed, but the underlying drive to create new, interesting and profitable media remains the same.

The Bottom Line

My advice to young artists? Don’t feel that you have to cheapen or somehow betray your passion for music just for shock value. That said, if you want to reach a larger audience, you have to find ways to use your unique talents to create something worth talking about. There are millions of artists out there, so the key is figuring out how to make your music loud enough to be heard above all the other noise.This is why I like to tell artists to treat their music like a product and less like an art form if they want to succeed. That means every time they put music out, they should be treating their fans or listeners, no matter how small that group is, like a focus group they can garner feedback from. The fans may not always know what they want until they hear it. But they do decide what happens to your career, so being arrogant about knowing what’s “the best art” is probably not going to work out for you. Purpose-driven artists can build their careers by understanding how they can market or portray their unique art — even if it means pushing the current boundaries of artist comfort.Originally published on Rolling Stone.

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The Transition to Remote Work

In many ways, the transition to remote work in the wake of Covid-19 has helped redefine existing conceptions of “company culture.” Even the term itself seems rather outdated; it conjures up images of bustling offices of decades past, with daily meetings, memos and synergetic pep talks. Though some organizations still function in this way, much modern-day business is done with teams spread out all over the world. Many entrepreneurs — myself included — now have to juggle multiple time zones and communication platforms, as well as differences in both language and culture.I’d like to make it clear that I am in no way complaining. In fact, I find the environment of remote workplaces exhilarating. That said, there’s no denying that we have entered an era in which traditional ways of developing and nurturing company culture no longer exist. Consequently, we have to find ways to build and promote cooperation, camaraderie, innovation and productivity — perhaps without ever meeting most of our coworkers face to face.

Company Culture Built On Communication

With the knowledge that work culture has evolved in a remote environment, many startups must spend a great deal of time considering and implementing various ways to strengthen the community from within. It may sound tedious to those entrepreneurs who are, frankly, just concerned with making payroll. You may wonder, who has the time to focus on company culture when there’s a never-ending to-do list? But when the “boss” is physically separate from everyone else, building strong professional relationships is essential.It’s not about monitoring people’s every move or badgering them for constant updates. Instead, it’s about developing a relationship built on mutual communication, trust and understanding. I seek to understand all of the people I work with — and do my best to make myself understood by them. Even when there is a clear hierarchical structure within the business, I want to let everyone know that they are heard and respected.While this may not be completely revolutionary, it is somewhat unique, even in the ever-growing world of remote work. Now that employees are no longer working under the noses of management, there’s a tendency in many companies to over-enforce policies that ensure productivity. In my opinion, this almost never has the desired effect. Instead, it results in more adversarial relationships, where business owners distrust their remote staff and remote employees resent their overbearing bosses.At my companies, most team communication takes place over Slack, email, Zoom or one of the productivity tools we use like Asana and Jira. Small nuances become important when much of our communication is no longer tied to facial expressions or body language. The need to over-communicate so that everyone can understand my tone and intention quickly becomes rather important. For this reason, I think one-on-one meetings allow us to understand each other on a deeper level. I never want to dictate; I prefer to collaborate.This is where I believe the future of remote company culture is heading. Rather than a series of top-down directives, objectives and policies meant to guide employee behavior, remote workplaces should be built on mutual trust and respect. This all begins with having the right people, in the right roles, who are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected output.

Turning Remote Company Culture Into Business Growth

While I personally like to communicate in writing, I’m not blind to the fact that many people are visual or auditory learners. So, in getting to know the people I work with, I also come to learn the most effective ways of communicating my ideas to them. While I may not prefer to brainstorm or think out loud on a call — as opposed to brainstorming in private and coming back with written thoughts — I recognize the importance of doing so in some cases. Sometimes people need to feel heard and seen, even if you’re reading everything they’re sending you. This helps facilitate an environment in which open dialogue is not only encouraged — it’s just the way we do business.Take one of my startups as an example. The first product we launched was our publication: It’s entirely stories from people’s lives. We simply tell stories that are not being told in other places. While we do verify authors and their stories, we publish them anonymously to ensure their ideas are considered fairly by the public. However, this also gives a voice to those who don’t yearn for the attention their story could bring them. I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t organize my businesses using the same foundational concepts. Everyone involved — from part-time freelancers to junior employees — has a voice. While we may not always agree on the same strategy or idea, it’s up to me to listen to them all.Even if they aren’t physically by my side, I know that I can depend on a network of people all over the world to help turn our mission and aspirations for the world into a reality. We all work closely together, exchanging ideas and information — often on a daily basis. In doing so, we ensure that no one’s ideas are disregarded, and everyone understands that they are contributing to something bigger than themselves — even when we’re thousands of miles apart.

The Bottom Line

While many of us may be using many of the same tools — Slack, Zoom and so on — the difference lies in how you use them to build relationships. I believe in maintaining a safe and professional working environment for everyone, myself included, but I’m not afraid to get personal. In fact, my businesses depend on it. By building trusting relationships with all of your remote teams and network of associates, you can ensure that you’re cultivating a company culture that is built for everyone.Originally published on Forbes.

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The Impact of Music — on Musicians

Arts and music are the most expressive industries. The spotlight they cast on artistic output is the death of many talented and upcoming artists. Contractual idiosyncrasies in the music industry offer several benefits, but also several distinct disadvantages. The mounting pressure to write, produce, and perform great music takes a toll on the artists, if not properly monitored. Although the current music industry offers many artists an opportunity to succeed, many times the artist will work themselves into a very unhealthy state. The creative process, and the pressure to remain relevant, exposes them to strong responses of depression, morbid public meltdowns, mental issues, and ultimately, may lead to their death.

The Impact of Streaming

On a similar note, the tantalizing premise of streaming services has led to success stories for a number of artists. As a consequence, music streaming services have resulted in a generation of single songs that have more impact than albums. At the same time, streaming has inexorably altered the music industry, which habitually notes the ‘death’ of artists, and many become tagged with the label of being one-hit wonders. However, as Paula Mejia wrote:

While streaming continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, the system through which artists are paid for the music being listened to hasn’t evolved in tandem — meaning that, as dissenters note, many artists are still paid little, after services and labels take their respective cuts.

Because of this new impact of streaming on artists, it is imperative to address the hot topic on the minds of many people — the literal and metaphorical death of artists due to mental health struggles, and the impact of streaming gatekeepers.

The wider cultural shift across the music industry, beginning with the advent of streaming, has introduced new types of gatekeepers. The industry is no longer siloed into discrete functions, such as promotion, publishing, talent management, and royalty collection, as it was in past decades. Streaming has changed music consumption and distribution, which has significantly altered popularity characteristics. The data used to evaluate the popularity of music and the artists, is obtained from streaming services in various classifications or charts. For instance, the Billboard’s Hot 100 includes weekly figures of the most popular songs across multiple regions and genres. It also ranks songs by radio airplay impressions, sales data, and streaming activity.

A Short Chart Life

The digital vetting process filters through songs, separating dubs and creating songs/singles that chart for only one week, known as “one-week wonders.” Digital songs are considerably more likely to plunge from modern digital vetting processes and disappear from the charts into oblivion. As Jerry Lao and Kevin Hoan Nguyen wrote in their article:

The end result is that digital songs are significantly more likely to fall off the chart in the first week compared to CD songs, but the effect moderates over time as the digital songs are scrutinized and only the good songs remain.

Moreover, the processes favor established artists who often regularly dominate the weekly charts. The digital platforms increase the avenues and frequency of music evaluation, as well as the speed with which singles from less established but talented artists peak and disappear — a one-time spotlight phenomenon.

The Decline of The Rising Career

The bedrock structure used by modern streaming services is disproportionately biased against emerging and midsize artists. The unfavorable model guts the musical career of many upcoming artists. Popular streaming services, including Apple Music and Spotify, use a “pro rata” model to determine how revenues are distributed. According to Mejia, the meaning of pro rata is that:

Rights-holders are paid according to market share; how their streams stack up against the most popular songs in a given time period. The people who hold the rights to the most listened-to tracks, then, stand to make the most.

This model is vastly critiqued as unreasonably privileged because it prioritizes and benefits the services themselves, followed by top artists and labels.

As a result, emerging and midsize artists have little chance to earn a decent living. In addition to money considerations, there is a shift toward purpose and mood-driven playlists, instead of full album plays. This pattern is mainly adopted as an advertising tool that functions on the basis that more value is derived from people listening more. Therefore, singles are pushed and popularized to the extent they matter more than artists or full-length albums.

Striving To Succeed

Music has a powerful positive impact on listeners’ mental health, yet many artists are subject to a negative impact, as they struggle with dire mental health issues. Sudden fame, and a lifestyle revolving around music creation and live performances, can intensify mental health challenges, including substance abuse and other psychological issues. In a tangential way, the quest to enter and rise to the peak of the music industry can massively impact an artist’s emotional health. Artists report despair and suicidal thoughts after repeatedly being turned away while trying to rise to fame.

This rejection reflects the brutal competitive nature of the industry, as only a few achieve a successful career. Several aspects trigger these problems, including lack of confidence, anxiety due to rejection and failure, negative influence of others, and the impact of exploitation. The callous nature of the music industry is evidenced by the peak in record sales immediately upon the death of an artist. Mental health struggles are a real menace in the sector that continue to steal big talents, and numb shining stars; as co-founder of Guin Records, our mission is to provide better support to artists

The Impact of Performance Pressure

The music community produces significant pressure and stressors. Artists often experience high-pressure situations, including gigs and live shows, attended by thousands of eager and expectant people. Artists are human, and the body is pre-programmed to respond in different ways under stress, which includes various physical and psychological states. Hence, musicians can either perform well due to the heightened awareness from adrenaline rushes, or suffer panic attacks or even memory loss, which cause long-term anxieties. Several artists have reported instances of stress-related breakdown that trigger unhealthy habits such as drinking and drug abuse.

Demi Lovato, for instance, has been admitted in hospital for drug overdose in the past. Before this incident, Lovato was and is still among the most vocal artists on mental health awareness within the music community. Anxiety struggles are also prevalent among several high-profile artists. Such debilitating issues cause much exasperation, necessitating the need to address them publicly. If left unaddressed, issues arising from high-pressure music industry may rapidly deteriorate to feelings of severe depression and suicidal thoughts.

Behind the Scenes — the Artist Suffers

It is paradoxical that music and musical communities and events foster a supportive environment to relax and have fun, yet artists suffer behind the scenes. The music industry is often a smoke and mirrors business, where artists may be portrayed as figureheads who have greater fortitude than others. Media and even artists foster these perceptions and encourage misconceptions about the magnitude of financial success. Nonetheless, they conceal the dire health conditions, and even worse financial outcomes that often occur.

The industry provides a brief window of opportunity for an artist to peak, but is all too often the death of many aspiring artists. Although streaming is arguably an engine driving the music industry to new heights, it is a black spot for those labelled as one-hit wonders. The sector is characterized by monsters, including mental health disorders, depression, and the death of artists and talent.

The Death of an Artist

Unfortunately, the most powerful impact of mental health issues in the music industry arises after the death of an artist. This issue is reflected in the deaths of major acts such as Avicii, who reportedly committed suicide after struggling with thoughts about the meaning of life, and Michael Jackson, who struggled with painkiller drugs addiction for years before dying from a combination of drugs. Artists are perceived (by fans) and portrayed (by the media) as having fun, ‘living the time of their lives’, and as people with superhuman fortitude. With this increased attention, artists often become influencers, and the demand for them to share their personal opinions and become subjected to the pressures of scrutiny, become even higher.

Instances of depression, mental breakdown, and even death show a different side of the lives of musicians. This situation shows the complexity and skewed perceptions about the subject of mental health issues in the context of the music industry. Unlike the easily relatable and understood cases of depression and anxiety such as schizophrenia, mental disorders and associated death within the music community is a major menace. The morbid public meltdowns, depression, and mental issues and ultimate deaths of artists continue to intrigue people — but sadly, just not enough to take action.

Originally published on Thrive

Works Cited

Lao, Jerry, and Kevin Hoan Nguyen. “One-Hit Wonder or Superstardom? The Role of Technology Format on Billboard’s Hot 100 Performance.” 2016, web.stanford.edu/~xhnguyen/BillboardandTechnology.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2020.

Mejia, Paula. “The Success of Streaming has been Great for Some, but is there a Better Way?” NPR, 22 Jul. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/07/22/743775196/the-success-of-streaming-has-been-great-for-some-but-is-there-a-better-way. Accessed 15 July 2020.

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The practice has gained much more prominence over the last two decades. Since the advent of the Internet, millions of 9-to-5 workers have put their extra time and resources toward making money through side hustles. According to a Bankrate survey, nearly half of full-time workers take part in some form of “side hustle” outside of their traditional job.

These activities can range from starting a fashion blog to working as a freelance delivery driver — and everything in between. When my co-founder Sabine and I pivoted Dormzi from being a service-based network to a marketplace powered by young people, our vision was to help students lean into their side hustles. One of the challenges we’ve been seeing since doing so is that many aspiring entrepreneurs believe that they would have to completely drop their 9-to-5 job or schooling to turn their side hustles into thriving businesses. Fortunately, this is frequently not the case. To show how to turn your side hustle into a full-time business, let’s look at a few real-world success stories:

Big businesses that started as side hustles

It’s a common misconception that your side hustle cannot become a successful business unless you dedicate 100% of your time and money to it. While it’s true that you cannot just expect a side hustle to become something more without any effort on your part, you can turn a side hustle into a full-time business without quitting your day job. How exactly can you do this? By regularly funding your side hustle with a portion of your 9-to-5 paycheck.

It sounds too easy to be true, right? The fact is that many side hustles remain side hustles because people don’t put additional funds into them. For example, if you provide writing services, you could pay to develop a website that markets your services and makes you look more professional. Without a website, you’ll likely struggle to gain new clients and turn your side hustle into a long-term business venture.

So, to refute the naysayers, let’s take a look at some entrepreneurs who invested in their side hustles and now run extremely profitable businesses:

Aytekin Tank, Founder of JotForm

Before founding JotForm in 2006, Aytekin Tank worked as a senior web developer for a large Internet media company in New York City. During his five-year tenure, Aytekin Tank was frequently tasked with creating tools with which editors could create unique forms, like surveys. However, Aytekin Tank often found the existing tools on the market wholly insufficient.

Thus, JotForm was born. While Aytekin Tank toiled away at his day job, he spent his free time developing what would become one of the most popular online form builder tools in the world. His work as a senior web developer provided enough additional funds to turn his ideas into a reality. Over time, Aytekin Tank put away a small fraction of his paycheck until he was ready to launch JotForm. Then, he had the funds to hire a team, grow his start-up into a full-time business, and become one of the dominant forces in his niche. Today, JotForm has over 2 million subscribers and counting!

Andrew Mason, Founder of Groupon

While Andrew Mason working toward a Public Policy Degree at the University of Chicago, he started developing The Point, a platform that introduced the “tipping point” concept of donating funds towards a particular cause. With The Point, users could collectively fundraise in support of a common goal. However, if the goal did not reach a certain number of supporters or a minimum monetary amount, no one would be charged and the goal would be abandoned. This “tipping point” concept would later form the basis of Andrew Mason’s subsequent endeavor, Groupon, with partners Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky.

Andrew Mason and his partners put a great deal of time and effort into The Point, which proved to be a failed idea, due in part to its lack of focus. However, they found that one aspect of The Point was particularly popular: collective buying power with group deals. Thus, in 2008, Groupon was born.

Andrew Mason worked as a server and a series of other odd jobs to pay his way through college and put aside funds to create The Point. Additionally, he was able to launch The Point with funds from his future Groupon partners. Even once The Point turned out to be a bust, Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky stuck by Andrew’s side. The trio turned their initial failure into a massive success, creating a company that is now valued at more than $2.4 billion!

Eren Bali, founder of Udemy

In the mid-2000s, Eren Bali worked as a freelance web developer based in Turkey. While working for various clients, including the now-defunct Speeddate.com, Bali was putting his extra time and funds toward his own passion project. In 2007, he developed software for a live virtual classroom. He saw a lot of potential in his new creation, so he saved up the funds to move his base of operations to Silicon Valley.

Once in California, Eren Bali met up with Oktay Caglar and Gagan Biyani to found Udemy, an open online course provider. The site launched in 2010 with minimal funding. In fact, Eren Bali and his partners tried and failed 30 times to gain the interest of investors. However, the early success of the platform allowed them to raise $1 million in just a few months. Later, Groupon investors Eric Lefkofsky and Brad Keywell would help raise more capital for the burgeoning company. By early 2020, Udemy was valued at approximately $2 billion!

How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Full-Time Business

It’s easy to look at success stories and feel that these side-hustlers-turned-business-owners just got lucky. While there is a certain amount of luck involved in every entrepreneurial endeavor, there are actionable steps you can take to turn your side hustle into a successful full-time business. Based on the examples above, you can reverse engineer their experiences to find a process that works for you. So, let’s take notes from successful entrepreneurs like Aytekin Tank, Andrew Mason, and Eren Bali!

Find and perfect your idea

In all three examples above, the founders of successful side-hustle businesses had ideas that they put into action. Often times, these ideas combined their existing skills or passions with a gap in the market. For example, let’s say that you are an excellent communicator and have expert knowledge in a particular niche. You could begin consulting for businesses in that niche. From there, you could set aside funds from your job to market and grow your side-hustle consultation services into a full-time business! This brings us to the second important step…

Develop a funding strategy

Most people begin side hustles to make money. However, to turn a side hustle into a business, you’ll need some starting capital. As a result, you’ll likely need to dedicate a small portion of your paycheck toward building your side hustle. This may sound counter-intuitive, but it’s actually a sound business strategy.

Think about it; if you quit your job just to focus on your side hustle, you greatly reduce your income and risk putting all of your eggs in one unpredictable basket. Alternatively, if you regularly set aside funds from your job (or your side hustle) to build your business, you’re essentially investing in your future without taking on any additional risk. Over time, this nest egg could be enough to get your business up-and-running. If you still need more capital, you could always look for investors or take out a small business loan to get things moving!

Launch your business

It may seem like an unimportant distinction, but a side hustle becomes a business once you identify it as such. Side hustles are essentially part-time, temporary work to make extra cash; businesses are long-term investments with the potential to grow and create much larger returns. So, once you officially launch your business as an LLC or similar entity, you’ve taken an important step in your transition from side hustler to business owner!

As illustrated in the stories above, side hustles are generally low-risk. You spend a little bit of extra time and money to (hopefully) make more money or develop a unique idea. However, launching a business entails much more risk. When Aytekin Tank formed JotForm, he struggled to pay and manage his ever-growing staff. Andrew Manson’s first business launch, The Point, turned out to be a momentous failure, though it led him to develop a much better and more profitable website. Finally, Eren Bali and his business partners failed dozens of times to secure funding before finally getting the capital they needed to grow their business. In all three examples, these entrepreneurs launched their side-hustle businesses in spite of the inherent risks.

Time to get started

Turning a side hustle into a big business doesn’t mean you need to quit your day job. In fact, a day job has allowed hundreds of entrepreneurs to routinely fund their side hustles, eventually transforming them into full-time businesses. Up-and-coming entrepreneurs sometimes argue that leaving their much-hated nine-to-five jobs to focus on a full-time business will increase their chances of success. While there is validity to the point that you can’t just “set it and forget it,” you don’t need to completely upend your financial life or career to build your business. Instead, routinely fund and dedicate extra time to your side hustle until you’re ready to launch your business venture.

Originally published on Entrepreneur.

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Today, small time farmers across the United States are stuck between a rock and a hard place due to unfair and unjust pressures put on these family run farms by mega corporations. This pressure has made it harder and harder for farmers to make ends meet to properly care for the health and wellbeing of their livestock. Unfortunately, nearly all farmers have to choose between, either, treating their animals humanely and making a small profit, or signing with a mega corporation to inhumanely raise livestock for a slightly larger profit. Poultry farms throughout the United States serve as a great example for how hard it is to compete with these corporations. 

The reality is that these mega corporations came in and changed the age-old standards of ethical farming. When looking at poultry farms, the price of meat and eggs has remained too low for too long for smaller farmers to compete and make a difference. Therefore, the poultry farmers have to make a tough choice between selling at the farmers’ markets, or signing deals with mega corporations for a better profit.

Factory farming, which is controlled by big businesses and corporations, are notorious for their inhumane treatment of animals. Poultry farmers, most of the time, have to compete with these mega corporations that find nothing ethically wrong with packing chickens into crates so small that they cannot move, failing to care for the medical needs in order to raise a bird bigger, faster, and cheaper. By completely neglecting any concern or care for the chickens, and placing these animals in horrific, unsanitary, and tortuous environments, big corporations are able to mass produce more eggs and poultry products at a discounted price. In exchange for money, they opt to torture animals.

This, in turn, drives down the price of poultry and eggs, considerably. Today, most farmers only make pennies per bird, due to the mass corporations that can afford to only obtain a marginal profit per animal because they own so many. Put in simpler terms, to make a $100, a mega corporation might only need to make 10 cents per chicken, since they have 1000 chickens. However, a small time farmer, who only has 100 chickens — but keeps them humanely, cares for their needs, and feeds them real food that is not genetically modified — would need to make $10 per chicken. This means that a small time farmer simply cannot compete with larger corporations that specialize in poultry. 

Ultimately, they, either, have to raise their productivity and, in doing so, sign a contract with a mega corporation, or remain small and sell at the farmer’s markets. Either way, the end result is the unfair treatment of poultry farmers and the continued mistreatment and abuse of chickens.

Not surprisingly, many smaller chicken farmers are reporting feeling extremely disgruntled and downright depressed over the current state of the whole enterprise. They remember the days, in decades past, when they could care for their chickens in an ethical and humane manner and still turn a profit because it was just them selling along with other farmers who grew for their towns. Now, you can buy the same brand of chicken all over the country. Because of this, fewer and fewer farmers are able to act ethically and earn enough to stay in business.

But there is hope. You as a consumer have the power to help these marginalized farmers and their animals who, ultimately, suffer the most. It is vital for all Americans to petition their governments — local, state, and federal — and demand that stricter laws and regulations be put into place in order to protect animal rights. Stricter laws will accomplish one of two goals: either, factory farmers will be driven out of business, or factory farms will be forced to treat their animals humanely and ethically. It is essential to keep in mind, that these larger corporations are lobbying lawmakers and petitioning to have their agendas upheld and undermine the legitimacy of truly dedicated and just farmers.

If factory farms shut down completely, then smaller farms will be able to thrive and prosper without having to succumb to barbaric practices. On the other hand, if these farms do abide by the laws and regulations which protect animal rights, then poultry farmers will be able to work in a humane setting and not be expected to abuse and mistreat animals in order to turn a profit. 

Either way, the farmer and the chickens will win and the corporations, which exploit farmers and torture innocent animals, will be thwarted in their nefarious actions.

Originally published on HuffPost.

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Social media influencers, bloggers, third-party review sites, and even major publications give negative feedback to businesses all the time. Learn how you can leverage media criticism to get your business ahead of the crowd.

One trait that applies to most new entrepreneurs is hopeless optimism. While many entrepreneurs and startup owners keep their feet on the ground when it comes to budgeting and business management, they may not be so level-headed about media criticism. In fact, most startup owners expect to receive nothing but praise and cheers when their products or services hit the market. Unfortunately, this is almost never the case.

However, every dark cloud has a silver lining. Rather than throwing in the towel when you get negative feedback, you should leverage media criticism to your advantage. When it comes to leveraging media critiques, there are essentially two schools of thought. One approach is the “P.T. Barnum Pro-Criticism” technique; the other is Eric Reis’ “Adaptive Learning” strategy. Though both methods are very different, they offer you two ways to turn negative media criticism into a useful tool to grow your business and ultimately stand out from the competition.

What is media criticism?

It may sound like a no-brainer, but many first-time entrepreneurs assume that any kind of negative feedback qualifies as media criticism. In fact, there’s a huge difference between consumers leaving your business bad reviews on Yelp and a journalist criticizing your startup in a respected publication. So, let’s evaluate the differences between consumer criticism and media criticism.

Consumer criticism

Consumer criticism refers to any kind of negative critique of you, your product, your service, or your business by a patron or customer. For example, let’s say you run a business that provides digital marketing services. A client uses your services, feels unhappy about their experience, and decides to write a negative review of your business.

This is a prime example of consumer criticism. It is simply a form of negative feedback from a customer or client. More importantly, the customer or client is not a public figure, nor do they hold any sway over a larger audience. However, their feedback will likely be in the public view, so it does have the power to negatively affect your business and possibly deter future clients.

Media criticism

Alternatively, media criticism refers to negative feedback from a public and/or authoritative source. Sometimes, consumer criticism can also be media criticism. For example, if a prominent Youtube star makes a purchase from your startup and creates a negative review video for their Youtube channel, this would be a form of both consumer and media criticism.

In any case, media criticism generally comes from individuals or organizations that have a large audience or have the ability to sway public opinion in a substantial way. Here are a few common examples:

• Journalists
• Prominent social media influencers or bloggers
• Celebrities
• Newspapers, magazines, and other media outlets
• TV programs, radio shows, and podcasts

Needless to say, there can be many different sources of media criticism. When many new startup owners are faced with media criticism, they may feel the urge to crumble under the pressure. After all, being the target of public criticism from a popular or authoritative source can be painful. So, how can you get over the initial hurdles and leverage media criticism to your own advantage?

Different approaches to managing and leveraging media criticism

As previously mentioned, there are two unique approaches to leveraging media criticism. The first approach is the “P.T. Barnum Pro-Criticism” method. This is a rather famous — and perhaps infamous — strategy implemented by world-renowned New York Showman and founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, P.T. Barnum. So, let’s take a closer look at the notorious showman’s strategy for using media criticism to grow his entertainment empire.

P.T. Barnum’s pro-criticism method

Though P.T. Barnum dabbled in a wide variety of ventures — from politics to journalism — he is most remembered for his traveling circus and widely publicized hoaxes. He became highly successful due to his keen observation that media criticism can be a good thing. In fact, many historians attribute the famous quote, “there’s no such thing as bad press,” (sometimes quoted as “there’s no such thing as bad publicity”) to Barnum.

One of Barnum’s most famous hoaxes was the “Feejee Mermaid,” which was the corpse of a monkey sewn to the tail of a fish, with paper-mâché to craft certain parts of the head and body. Despite its highly questionable authenticity, thousands of people flocked to Barnum’s New York-based museum to see the exhibit. In this instance, Barnum used controversy and negative media attention to grow his empire. This was further exemplified with his second most popular hoax, “General Tom Thumb.”

As part of his touring circus, Barnum employed several dwarfs and little people, one of whom he dubbed “General Tom Thumb.” The young boy began performing at the age of 4, with Barnum claiming that he was “The Smallest Person That Ever Walked Alone.” The act was so popular that Barnum took it to Europe, where Queen Victoria was both entertained and saddened by the young entertainer. His appearance before royalty — and the subsequent media frenzy — led to a hugely successful European tour.

So, how can these stories help you as an entrepreneur? The fact is that there is some truth to Barnum’s media criticism theory. Press — whether good or bad — provides exposure for you and your business. In short, it makes more people aware of your brand. For example, my business, The Doe, is a digital publication for anonymous contributors. Since we strive to encourage conversation and differing viewpoints, we have faced media criticism in the past. Most recently, we experienced backlash related to an article that argued against voting in the 2020 election due to the lack of quality candidates. Some of our more prominent followers took to social media to deride the article’s viewpoint, but as the founder and CEO of The Doe, I decided to lean into the criticism. Rather than ignoring, however, I always choose to respond to our critics, as often those conversations can be the most enlightening as a founder.

Eric Reis’ adaptive learning

In his much-lauded book, The Lean Startup, American entrepreneur Eric Reis puts forward a method for handling media critiques as a startup owner. Part of this process is a practice that Reis calls “Adaptive Learning.” As the name implies, entrepreneurs must analyze feedback so that they can adapt and learn from past mistakes. In short, it takes the same process that startups can use with consumer criticism and implements it with media criticism.

However, the ideas behind Adaptive Learning are far more complex than simply learning from one’s mistakes. In fact, Reis promotes a three-step process that every startup owner can use to their advantage. The illustration below provides a broad overview of Reis’ process:

As you can see, every startup must begin with a vision. This step defines the goals of your startup. To get to the next step, you must identify actionable steps that can get your startup up and running. Once you’ve identified these elements, you can start seeing how your business operates and how it is received. Are you able to profit right from the start? Is consumer feedback positive or negative? How about media critiques?

If you’re getting any negative feedback or taking note of metrics that could be improved, this is the moment to adapt and learn. This process of building, measuring, and learning is the foundation of Adaptive Learning. As you can see from the illustration above, you can continue through this process multiple times to improve your business and leverage media criticism to your advantage.

It’s inevitable

At one point or another, media criticism is an inevitability for every startup owner. Whether it’s a blogger who doesn’t like your product or a journalist who thinks your practices are questionable, there will always be media critiques of your business. Remember, you shouldn’t see media criticism as a reason to give up; you should see it as a reason to improve and build your business. Whether you use the P.T. Barnum Pro-Criticism approach or Eric Reis’ Adaptive Learning method (or even a combination of the two), you have an actionable path to success. You simply have to use your ability to leverage media criticism so that your business can grow and get ahead of the crowd!

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