Fast company magazine

Tech companies often come under criticism for hosting extremist content that inspires mass shooters. But many big Silicon Valley names, and affiliated political action committees, have also donated directly and indirectly to politicians that support limited gun restrictions. That comes as U.S. gun deaths vastly exceed those of other rich nations , a disparity that’s owed in large part to lax gun regulations. advertisement advertisement While tech execs, when they do speak out, often favor gun control , companies donate to both sides of the political aisle, including politicians that support easing gun laws and groups that support them, like the National Republican Senatorial Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee. The NRSC and NRCC have both used gun control opposition to drum up voter support, and Republicans like Texas Senator Ted Cruz have said gun regulation isn’t the solution . (On the other hand, while there are some … [Read more...] about Silicon Valley has given tens of thousands to Republican organizations that back pro-gun politicians

Sixty percent of Americans are worried that automation is putting jobs at risk, and 39% think their own job will be obsolete within five years, according to PwC’s Hopes and Fears survey . New positions that may not exist today, however, will replace some of the jobs that will be lost to AI. But, if your job is at risk, it’s a good idea to have plan B in place now so you can seamlessly transition and stay relevant. advertisement advertisement “The only thing we can predict is the unpredictable,” says Scott Steinberg, author of Think Like a Futurist 2022: The Next Normal . “Things tend to move fast and change from week to week at this point, and there will be many next ‘normals.’ Even when many events are outside your ability to control, you can always steer things toward a more positive outcome.” The first thing is to gain situational awareness. It should raise major red flags if your job is easily reduced to a description on paper that anyone … [Read more...] about How to future-proof your job by thinking like a futurist

Today’s tight labor market, economic challenges, and customers’ ever-increasing expectations have changed the business landscape. To adapt, survive and have a chance to thrive, businesses must be increasingly agile. advertisement Companies need the people, processes and technology to support fast decision making, continued innovation and inevitable pivots. Let’s consider how your business can use process redesign, automation and people-first strategies to speed up workflows while delivering exceptional experiences for customers and employees alike. Customer service and personalization Customer service has become a business differentiator: a tool for building connections and reinforcing brand values. While this is more important than ever, it is also more complicated. Jeff Weiner, vice president, general manager at Conduent , a provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) solutions that ignite efficiency, savings and revenue growth, explains that the … [Read more...] about How to build business momentum during challenging times

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin At Daniel Defense , a Black Creek, GA-based manufacturer of AR-15 semi-automatic rifles and accessories, founder Marty Daniel saw sales spike last year when it looked like Hillary Clinton would win the presidency. Though he supports Donald Trump, his customers aren’t buying as many firearms now that they have a National Rifle Association supporter in the White House. But Daniel, 54, sees a promising long-term future for gun makers. He’s weathered sales surges and dips since he founded the company in 2001 after inventing a custom attachment for his Colt rifle and selling extra pieces online. At a 2002 gun show, he was discovered by a rep for U.S. Special Forces, which wound up signing a $20 million contract. Daniel Defense has since grown into one of the country’s largest privately held producers of guns and accessories, with $73 million in 2016 sales, a gross profit margin of 35% and 279 employees. In this interview, which has … [Read more...] about A Gun Maker Reveals What Trump’s Presidency Means For His Business

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The retail sector has been hard-hit by a selloff in recent weeks amid warnings from major companies that surging inflation has impacted profits, and despite a rebound on Wednesday, experts predict further challenges ahead as consumer spending becomes increasingly hard to predict. Key Facts Retail and consumer stocks rebounded thanks to reports that Kohl’s is preparing to receive competing takeover offers from several bidders, according to Reuters; meanwhile, investors are finding a glimmer of hope in Nordstrom’s strong first-quarter revenue and news that it raised its full-year sales outlook. Despite the retail sector getting “decimated” throughout earnings season, both positive headlines helped “spur buying for the first time in weeks,” says Vital Knowledge founder Adam Crisafulli, who points to the trading activity around Dick’s Sporting Goods—shares of which fell roughly 10% before turning positive … [Read more...] about Retail Stocks Rebound But ‘Feast-Or-Famine Environment’ May Persist Amid Shift In Consumer Spending, Experts Warn

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin I remain a big fan of cash right now. I know, I know. I’m not supposed to say this in a stock -focused column like this. “But Brett,” I can hear the rebuttal. “We’ve been smartly selling the rips . My cash is burning a hole in my pocket.” “And I’m here for the income. Shouldn’t I buy something ?” Not yet. We contrarians shouldn’t be in a hurry to time the bottom of the market. There will be free and fast money on the other side of this bearish storm. Every correction eventually ends. For now, we buy lightly. And enjoy our comfortable seat. This is what I call the “no beta” portfolio. It’s a pile of cash that we deploy when we “back up the truck” at major market bottoms. In the spring of 2020 , we went on a dividend shopping spree. We bought stocks like energy toll bridge ONE ONE ONEO NEO OK (OKE) for a song—and we’re now sitting on 148% gains. Later that year, we identified … [Read more...] about The Best Dividend Stocks, Bull Or Bear

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin 92 million tons of clothes-related waste are discarded each year. To put that in perspective, that’s the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing being sent to a landfill every second. The good news is this excessive waste has driven innovation in ways that not only benefit our planet but that also provide a more transparent and personalized way for brands to communicate with consumers. And a few trailblazing companies are leading the charge. Using Digital IDs for Authenticated Resale Resale is huge and the industry is getting bigger fast. Insulated from supply chain bottlenecks and benefitting from an increased focus on sustainability, the resale market is growing 11 times faster than traditional retail and expected to hit $77 billion in the next five years. So, what is the next evolution in resale? Vanessa Barboni Hallik, the CEO of Another Tomorrow, believes it is important to offer resale … [Read more...] about Brands Are Now Communicating To Consumers About Sustainability Through QR Codes – Here’s How

What would you do with a heck of a lot of money? Would you be happier? How much so? In recent days, we've watched the aftermath of the Facebook IPO, and paid close attention as news broke that SAP is acquiring Ariba. We've been thinking about what happens when entrepreneurs come into a windfall. The classic advice is that you should do very little at first--no major lifestyle changes. But of course not everyone follows that advice. Ariba was a public company with a soaring stock price a dozen years ago, when it acquired Jon's company, SupplierMarket.  Upon arriving at his new office, he noticed a LOT of flashy German cars filling the parking lot. An employee told him that something like 10% of all BMWs sold in Northern California that year were bought by newly minted Ariba millionaires. We thought a lot about this as we explored how to lead a balanced life in our book, Breakthrough Entrepreneurship . Wealth managers certainly have a theory or two. Earlier … [Read more...] about Start-up Millionaires: The Best & Worst Ways to Spend Your Money