PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images Starting this week, millions of minimum wage workers will start receiving fatter paychecks. On Jan. 1, 18 states and 19 cities across the country increased their minimum wages--many of them going up to between $12 and $15 an hour. The left-leaning think tank Economic Policy Institute estimates that around 4.5 million workers, particularly those in low-wage occupations such as retail, restaurant, or healthcare services stand to benefit. The federal minimum wage has been just $7.25 an hour since 2009. Local legislation and voter-approved ballot measures as well as inflated prices of consumer goods have contributed to the wage hikes in places such as Seattle, Minneapolis, and Flagstaff, Arizona. In coastal cities where the cost of living has soared, wage campaigns--such as the Fight for $15 that striking fast food workers began in 2012--have helped build momentum for the increases. (Additional worker-driven wage campaigns are under way in at least 14 cities and … [Read more...] about Small Businesses Brace for $15 Minimum Wage Hike
Business
Here’s What Warren Buffett, Elon Musk and Tim Ferriss Are Secretly Teaching Us About Building a Business Empire
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images Ever since I turned 30 and went through my quarter-life crisis, I've been fascinated with the definitions of success and fulfillment. In my quest, I've studied and spoken with leaders from Warren Buffett (fun fact: I once served as his bodyguard...a story for another time) to millionaire entrepreneurs that most have never heard of. A little over a year ago, when I was just starting my book-writing process, an entrepreneur friend of mine told me the secret to his writing success, and at first I couldn't possibly fathom that what he was saying was true. His solution: be vulnerable. Before you assume this is just another article about how being vulnerable is the secret cure-all to business, appropriate vulnerability isn't about simply sharing the deep, dark secrets of your life. Rather, there's a secret power to vulnerability that the best business minds of our time frequently use to endear a massive and loyal following, which is a huge key to their financial … [Read more...] about Here’s What Warren Buffett, Elon Musk and Tim Ferriss Are Secretly Teaching Us About Building a Business Empire
The Booming Business of a Bomb Cyclone
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images Welcome to the 150th episode of the Inc. Uncensored podcast, hosted by Inc. editor James Ledbetter. This week, staff writer Zoë Henry discusses the business of 'bombogenesis,' the scientific name for the superstorm that pummeled the Northeast this week. As gusts of 40 and 50 mph wind dumped inches of snow and sleet on coastal cities, companies that manufacture plows, blowers and salt spreaders prepared for a much-needed sales boost. Meanwhile, at least one snow removal service expects to see as much as $100,000 in net revenue per day from the storm. Then, Inc.'s executive director of editorial Jon Fine delves into the rise and fall of GoPro, the subject of a winter issue feature. Fine explores how founder Nick Woodman, at 42, has become a more seasoned executive, after being forced to fire a quarter of his staff in March 2017 thanks to an ill-advised pivot to media. Finally, for our executive interview segment, the group interviews Austin McChord, … [Read more...] about The Booming Business of a Bomb Cyclone
Suddenly, Everyone’s a Business Expert. Here’s How to Tell Who’s Really Worth Listening To
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images The internet has become a living, breathing, professional self-help platform. If advice on how to run your company isn't coming at you 140 (or now 280) characters at a time on Twitter, you can get it from a homespun podcast, a Medium confessional, or someone's TinyLetter personal newsletter. There's hardly a CEO, an entrepreneur, or a cultural figure these days who doesn't profess to hold some wisdom that will lead you to building a great business. I don't think this proliferation of expertise is a particularly useful development (though it's not lost on me that I'm guilty of dishing my own brand of advice). All of this counsel isn't informing people. It's overwhelming them. What happens when you read one thing one day and the next day you read something that completely contradicts it? What's right, what's wrong, what's leading, and what's misleading? So rather than give you advice on how to take advice, I thought I'd share my personal approach to filtering … [Read more...] about Suddenly, Everyone’s a Business Expert. Here’s How to Tell Who’s Really Worth Listening To
YouTube just cut its business ties with PewDiePie
YouTube is breaking up with one of its most famous stars after it was discovered that he posted videos with Nazi and anti-Semitic content in some of his videos. YouTube has canceled its YouTube Red original show starring Felix Kjellberg, also known as PewDiePie, following a similar move by the Disney-owned online video network Maker Studios Monday. A YouTube spokesperson confirmed the move to The Verge. Business Insider has asked YouTube for comment. We’ve also reached out to Kjellberg for comment. Disney ended its relationship after The Wall Street Journal asked the company aboutKjellberg’s videos. The WSJ found nine videos produced and starring PewDiePie with anti-Semitic or Nazi content. Kjellberg’s show, “Scare PewDiePie,” was a YouTube original accessible through the company’s subscription service YouTube Red. The show was about to have its second season premiere. YouTube is also removing Kjellberg from Google’s preferred advertising … [Read more...] about YouTube just cut its business ties with PewDiePie