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3 Big Security Blunders You Don’t Know You’re Making on OPEN...

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:18:00 -0400

3 Big Security Blunders You Don’t Know You’re Making on OPEN Forum

Did you know that about half of all security breaches in 2012 targeted businesses with
fewer than 1,000 employees? Yet many small-business owners aren’t taking
security seriously. Here are three common mistakes you might not know
you’re making:

1. Not implementing a mobile security policy.
2. Using cloud-based applications without security precautions.
3. Failing to test third-party applications.

Read more on the solutions to these three security mistakes.

(via 3 Big Security Blunders You Don’t Know You’re Making | | The New OPEN ForumThe New OPEN Forum)

Click here to embiggen (see full infographic) Setting an...

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:37:56 -0400

Click here to embiggen (see full infographic)

Setting an appropriate marketing budget is key to an effective campaign. Our healthcare marketing agency outlines the best way to set a marketing budget based on your company’s revenue.

(Via Visual.ly)

5 Reasons Stupid People Make More Money Than You on OPEN...

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:45:00 -0400

5 Reasons Stupid People Make More Money Than You on OPEN Forum

Does it feel like no matter how hard you work, someone dumber than you is more successful?

Here’s why they are bringing home the bacon:

1. The Rich Get Richer
2. Good Genes
3. No More Mr. Nice Guy
4. Brown Nosing
5. Plain-Old Dumb Luck

Read more on what smart actions to take about people not as smart as you making more money than you.

(via 5 Reasons Stupid People Make More Money Than YouThe New OPEN Forum)

The 4 Traits You Need to Be a Great Leader on OPEN Forum“Great...

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:30:00 -0400

The 4 Traits You Need to Be a Great Leader on OPEN Forum

“Great leadership doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no 6-week course that will suddenly turn you into George Washington or Jack Welch. Great leadership is built brick by brick over many years with each decision and every mistake you make. Done correctly, great leadership stands on a rock solid foundation.” Brian Moran, Publisher, At Home with Century 21 Magazine

What type of person and leader do you aspire to be? The words you choose to describe your leadership style are your leadership cornerstones. Read more on how to choose four cornerstones that define you as a leader.

(via The 4 Traits You Need to Be a Great Leader | | The New OPEN ForumThe New OPEN Forum)

dark-rye: D.I.Y. Meditation: A Step-by-Step Guide at DARK RYE’s...

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:27:14 -0400

dark-rye:

D.I.Y. Meditation: A Step-by-Step Guide at DARK RYE’s Ritual Issue

Not everyone can run a marathon or even half a mile. Not everyone can make delicious homemade gluten-free muffins using only locally sourced ingredients. But everyone can meditate, and you should try it, too. Why? Because it’s an activity that you can do sitting down while wearing your most comfortable pants. Also, it will help you be the best version of yourself. Guaranteed.

Do you meditate? Many entrepreneurs swear by meditation and simple breathing techniques to get them through the stress of building a company.

Yahoo Buys Tumblr and Promises “Not to Screw It Up”All Things D...

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:03:00 -0400

Yahoo Buys Tumblr and Promises “Not to Screw It Up”

All Things D broke the news that Yahoo bought Tumblr for $1.1 billion this morning.

Tumblr CEO David Karp wrote in his memo that “Yahoo is the original Internet company, and Marissa and her team share our dream to make the Internet the ultimate creative canvas.” Click here to read Karp’s full memo and Yahoo’s announcement on All Things D.

We look forward to seeing what this partnership does for both companies!

(via Yahoo Buys Tumblr and Promises “Not to Screw It Up” - Peter Kafka - Media - AllThingsD - Image source)

"My art teacher in college told us about a reporter who asked Picasso why he chose to paint. His..."

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:43:43 -0400

“My art teacher in college told us about a reporter who asked Picasso why he chose to paint....

Stay Hungry: 3 Ways to Reawaken Your Entrepreneurial Drive on...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:22:00 -0400

Stay Hungry: 3 Ways to Reawaken Your Entrepreneurial Drive on OPEN Forum

The tedium of owning a business can get to even the most die-hard entrepreneur. Use these tricks to get your passion back and be re-inspired.

1. Value Trivial Motivations
2. You, Here and Now
3. “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish!”

Click here to read more on these suggestions to help re-start your business drive and invest your heart and soul into every project and task.

(via Stay Hungry: 3 Ways to Reawaken Your Entrepreneurial Drive | | The New OPEN ForumThe New OPEN Forum)

This image is not what The Startup Curve looks like according to...

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:30:00 -0400

This image is not what The Startup Curve looks like according to Paul Graham and Fred Wilson, VC and principal of Union Square Ventures.

“To all those entrepreneurs whittling away in their offices trying to find out when to release their product to the market, I say “get on with it”. You are going to have to go on the roller coaster ride at some point. Might as well start now.” - Fred Wilson

(via A VC: The Startup Curve)

Click here to embiggen (see full infographic) With so many mom...

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:16:00 -0400

Click here to embiggen (see full infographic)

With so many mom and pop shops opening, and then quickly closing, the way to win in small business is endurance and outlasting the competition. This infographic provides data on the longevity of small businesses and how your business can live into it’s old age.

(Via Intuit)

6 Mistakes That Are Costing You Sales on OPEN ForumYour skills...

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:13:00 -0400

6 Mistakes That Are Costing You Sales on OPEN Forum

Your skills aren’t holding you back from making big sales. Your low emotional IQ is. Here are the six mistakes you’re making:

Mistake 1: You don’t make an emotional connection.
Mistake 2: You talk too much.
Mistake 3: You lack self-awareness.
Mistake 4: You can’t adapt.
Mistake 5: You’re not authentic.
Mistake 6: You lack humility.

Are you making these mistakes? if so, read more on how you can right these wrongs and increase your sales.

(via 6 Mistakes That Are Costing You Sales | | The New OPEN ForumThe New OPEN Forum)

good: Turns Out Bike Lanes Are Really Good for Local...

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:52:36 -0400

good:

Turns Out Bike Lanes Are Really Good for Local Business
- Meghan Neal wrote in Business, Transportation and Cities

Good news for bike activists: Making a safe place on streets for cyclists (and pedestrians) boosts sales for the small businesses in the area.

This according to a recent report from the New York Department of Transportation. The study found that on commercial blocks where new bike lanes were built, the businesses saw a nearly 50 percent increase in sales.

Continue reading on good.is

Join us for our Fix Your Street Challenge on the last Saturday of May. Click here to say you’ll Do It and be sure to share stories of transportation innovation all month.

With Citi Bike launching in NYC, we are happy to hear that new bike lanes increase sales for small businesses!

"If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete."

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:05:21 -0400

““If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete.”” - Jack Welch, American...

The 99% Success Formula on Inc.com1. Know where you’re starting...

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400

The 99% Success Formula on Inc.com

1. Know where you’re starting from (A).
2. Know where you want to be (B).
3. Build a plan to get from A to B.
4. Take massive action based on that plan.
5. Observe whether you’re closer to B.
6. If the plan is working, double down on step 4.
7. If the plan isn’t working, go back to step 3.

(via The 99% Success Formula | Inc.com)

Why It Pays to Be Humble by Gary Vaynerchuk on OPEN ForumThese...

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:30:00 -0400

Why It Pays to Be Humble by Gary Vaynerchuk on OPEN Forum

These days, starting a new company, pivoting or bringing your existing company into the tech field is common fare for the small-business owner. In this video, expert and experienced entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk offers his best advice on how to succeed when you’re entering unknown territory. Hint: it’s much more discreet than you’d think.

(via Why It Pays to Be Humble | | The New OPEN ForumThe New OPEN Forum)

Introducing the “Lean” Meeting on OPEN Forum“Death by meeting”...

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:07:00 -0400

Introducing the “Lean” Meeting on OPEN Forum

“Death by meeting” is a common complaint, the lament usually being one of frequency, length, or lack of productivity.

Start with a simple three-point strategy to make your meetings more lean:

1. Limit yourself to keep it under 12 minutes.
2. Only have meetings around a single purpose or goal.
3. Unsocial meetings.

(via Hold More Meetings–Just Keep Them Short | | The New OPEN ForumThe New OPEN Forum)

Click here to embiggen (see full infographic) Is email marketing...

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:28:00 -0400

Click here to embiggen (see full infographic)

Is email marketing still relevant and useful for small businesses? According to this infographic it is; 67.8 billion dollars in sales will come from emails. Use this infographic to motivate and double check that your email marketing strategy is on point.

(Via Visual.ly)

Three Reasons Every Leader Needs a BlogDo you have a blog? If...

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:17:00 -0400

Three Reasons Every Leader Needs a Blog

Do you have a blog? If not, here are three reasons why you should motivate yourself to start one:

1. Leaders Need a Place to Think Out Loud
2. Blogs Encourage You to Keep Learning
3. Blogs Introduce You to New Connections

(Via LinkedIn)

(via Three Reasons Every Leader Needs a Blog | LinkedIn)

nycedc: With this news, you’d think Bobby Valentine is now...

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:21:34 -0400

nycedc:

With this news, you’d think Bobby Valentine is now managing New England’s tech scene:

New York’s share of venture capital dollars has doubled over the last ten years while its rival, Silicon Valley, has grown at a much slower pace and New England has sputtered, a new study from the Center for an Urban Future shows.

Between the first quarter of 2003 to the first quarter of this year, the New York area’s share of VC investments surged to 11.4% from 5.3%.

Silicon Valley’s share rose to 31.7% from 28.6% over the same period while New England’s share fell to 10.2% from 14.8%.

Read more in NY Daily News. Go #NYCTech!

Chart: Center for an Urban Future report

Great news for NYC tech entrepreneurs! NYC is the clear leader for where tech start ups need to be on the East Coast to get VC funding.

It can be daunting to make conversation with a fellow CEO or...

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:30:00 -0400

It can be daunting to make conversation with a fellow CEO or high powered executive that you respect when you are caught off guard, especially when you are stuck riding the elevator 30 floors down.

Mashable created these 3 conversation types to help you next time you are at a loss for words with a CEO:

1. The Trader Joe - think Hawaiian shirts and a laid back vibe for an easy going chat.
2. The Tactful Admirer - a compliment to a senior executive on an accomplishment will never fail to kick off conversation.
3. The Travel Talker - all business leaders travel, so use that to your advantage in your opening line.

Read more on Mashable for some more executive elevator-talk.

(via Caught in an Elevator With the CEO? 3 Conversation Starters)