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Nearly 50% of Parents Have Started Side Hustles: Survey


Side hustles are soaring as Americans take on second jobs to be able to afford the normal stuff.

According to a new survey, one group in particular is feeling the crunch of rising inflation and home prices, and taking on extra work in response.

Bankrate released its side hustle survey on Wednesday and found that more than one in three U.S. adults make extra money with a side gig, like a weekend job or freelance work.

The survey noted that parents of children ages 18 and under are turning to side hustles more often than those without children or those with older kids.

Related: This Mom Started a Side Hustle on Facebook — Now It Averages $14,000 a Month and She Can ‘Work From a Resort in the Maldives’

“Many Americans are still finding that one job isn’t enough,” Bankrate Senior Industry Analyst Ted Rossman stated. “The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years.”

Nearly half (45%) of parents with kids younger than 18 have a side hustle compared to 36% of childless adults and 28% of parents with adult children.

The average monthly side hustle income is $891 per month and the majority of Americans with side hustles (52%) have only been at it for less than two years. They’re likely using the money to pay bills, build their savings, or for discretionary spending.

Related: This 26-Year-Old’s Side Hustle That ‘Anybody Can Do’ Grew to Earn $170,000 a Month. Here’s What Happened When I Tested It.

“My schedule is mayhem,” 41-year-old Jordan Chussler, parent to a 5-year-old daughter and editor of a financial publication, told Marketwatch.

His daughter’s private school bill is $10,600; inflation has brought household expenses up for his family across the board. Chussler works during his lunch break and at night, as a freelancer and at restaurants, to make ends meet.

Chussler and his wife make about $165,000 combined at their main jobs; Chussler takes on extra jobs throughout the year to bring their combined income closer to $200,000 for more financial security.

He puts the extra money from side hustles into a Roth IRA and his daughter’s education fund.

Related: He Turned His High School Science Fair Project Into a Product That Solves a $390 Billion Problem: ‘This Has Not Been Done Before’



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Nvidia Is Becoming the IBM of AI, Says Former Apple Engineer


Jim Keller, an engineer who has worked at AMD, Apple, and Tesla and is now CEO of an AI chip startup taking on Nvidia, says that Nvidia is “becoming the IBM of the AI era.”

On a Sunday podcast episode of DemystifySci, Keller brought up Nvidia’s AI chips and called attention to companies like Microsoft and Google that are using Nvidia’s technology to power their own innovations.

“All the big tech companies are in an arms race and they’re all calling Nvidia,” Keller said.

Related: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Turned Down a Merger Offer in the Company’s Early Days, According to Insiders. Here’s Why.

Keller, who now leads the $2 billion AI chip startup Tenstorrent, which has funding from Samsung and Hyundai, stated that Nvidia currently has “the best processors by functionality.”

He then said that Nvidia is “slowly becoming the IBM of the AI era,” adding, “We’ll see how that goes. I run an AI tech company so I have opinions about that too.”

Jim Keller, chief executive officer of Tenstorrent. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Nvidia is now the industry leader for AI chips, with over 80% of the market share. It benefits from a first-mover advantage in AI computing; Nvidia claims to have started investing in AI and machine learning development starting in 2006.

Related: Employees Who Worked at This Company for the Past 5 Years Are Now Multi-Millionaires in ‘Semi-Retirement’

IBM, too, could be considered a first mover in the PC market. Though IBM did not invent the PC, the company’s 1981 personal desktop opened computers up to a broader audience and generated $1 billion in revenue in its first year.

IBM “set a technology standard” with its first PC, according to IEEE Spectrum.

Keller has previously weighed in on the cost of AI chips, both from Nvidia and from ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, which currently uses Nvidia’s chips. He claimed in April that Nvidia could have cut research and development costs and in February that he could build AI processors for all workloads and AI companies at one-eighth of the cost suggested by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in March that its next-generation AI chip would cost more than $30,000.

Related: Here’s How Much Investing $10,000 in Nvidia When It Went Public Would Be Worth Now



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AI Marketing Secrets: 3 Game-Changing GPT-4 Use Cases to Make Money with AI


Tackle AI’s toughest questions with Ben Angel, mapping the business terrain for 20 years. Master the AI landscape and reach peak productivity and profits with insights from his latest work, “The Wolf is at The Door — How to Survive and Thrive in an AI-Driven World.” Click here to download your ‘Free AI Success Kit‘ and get your free chapter from his latest book today.



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Apple Likely Rolling Out Best Siri AI Features in 2025: Report


Though Apple announced some sweeping AI changes to Siri at its WWDC event last month, it’s been unclear when these changes will reach iPhone screens. But a new report from Bloomberg chief correspondent Mark Gurman clarifies the timeline.

Gurman, who has an 86.5% accuracy rate on the Apple information he has leaked in the past, wrote in his Sunday Power On newsletter that though Apple Intelligence AI will come out this fall, the most important Siri updates will arrive next spring.

This includes Siri accessing and working with other Apple apps based on a simple command. For example, when asked, “Hey Siri, what’s my driver’s license number?” Siri will soon be able to go through the Photos app, find a picture of the license plate, and even be able to put the numbers in a web form.

Related: Apple Is Reportedly Eyeing the Home Robot Space After Scrapping Its 10-Year Electric Car Project

Another Siri upgrade on lock until next year is Siri understanding context, or being able to interpret what an iPhone user is looking at.

In the fall, Siri will still get supercharged with ChatGPT and get a design makeover, but the voice assistant will lack those key contextual features, according to Gurman.

The Siri update won’t be complete until developers beta test the features starting in January and Apple releases the upgrade publicly in the spring of 2025, per the same report.

A person holds a phone in front of the Siri logo. Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Bloomberg report aligns with Apple’s public statements.

Apple noted in its June press release that Apple Intelligence will start rolling out this fall in beta, but “some features, software platforms, and additional languages will come over the course of the next year.” The fine print leaves room for certain features to debut later, after Apple Intelligence’s fall release.

Apple stepped into the AI game nearly two years after ChatGPT was launched but decided to take a more collaborative approach to AI development. Along with creating AI in-house, Apple also chose to integrate ChatGPT directly into its products and open up the doors for AI models from other competitors.

Related: Apple Reportedly Isn’t Paying OpenAI to Use ChatGPT in iPhones

AI could also prompt hundreds of millions of iPhone users with older models to upgrade this fall — Apple Intelligence only works on the newest iPhones.



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Why Mom and Pop Stores Should Never Overlook Their Branding Strategy — And How They Can Outshine Retail Giants


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

When was the last time you entered an establishment, looked around, and thought, “This place is a real mom-and-pop shop!”

Historically, “mom-and-pop stores” were just that: small stores run by someone’s parents as a business that brought in just enough to raise their kids. Looking back a hundred years ago, you might think of a corner grocery, or a little bakery on a back street in town. These days, though, “mom and pop” can apply to any small business — though “small business” itself has expanded drastically to include businesses with up to hundreds of employees. That’s certainly not what most would think of with a mom-and-pop-type store.

At its core, a “mom and pop” endeavor is small, independent, and often family-owned and operated, hence the name. They tend to be local, with a limited audience. Though small stores can flourish in big cities, the mental image that most of us get is that of a small town, with a general store providing goods to loyal customers – many of whom don’t have much choice in where to shop. And while this may be true in small-town America, there are plenty of family-run independents everywhere you go.

But if you know that your little store has a limited audience, to begin with, it begs the question – is branding important for a mom-and-pop store?

The answer is yes. Here’s why.

Related: What Big Brands Can Learn From Mom-and-Pop Stores to Connect with Customers

Fighting the competition

By their very nature, mom-and-pop shops don’t have a lot of resources to draw on. In the era of globalization, this can make it even more difficult for small businesses to keep up.

It’s a fact that the financial state of the average citizen tends to be unstable. Jobs come and go, and the economy seems to be rocking more and more every year. With the rising cost of living, consumers are increasingly searching out cheaper products—and big businesses, outsourcing to other countries for manufacturing, are eager to oblige. If you can get a product online for a fraction of the cost of buying it at a local store, it seems like an obvious choice to make.

Luckily, there are some initiatives that are giving mom-and-pop shops an edge on ecommerce and big business. Small Business Saturday was founded in 2010 to encourage shopping locally; in its wake, hundreds of variations on the theme have popped up in communities across the U.S. Spending money in small local stores has become a point of pride for many, even if they spend more there than they would online.

However, branding still makes a difference for small local businesses, even if they have a limited audience. Part of that is due to the brand personality.

Make it easy to shop local

“Branding” as a whole incorporates a lot of things. It has visual aspects, such as a well-designed logo. Advertisements and campaigns fall under branding, too. However, a mom-and-pop store’s branding strategy emphasizes elements that are more important than your logo.

Think of it this way: branding is the process of introducing your business to your neighbors. Your logo is like telling them your name. But your brand personality is who you really are — not just what a shopper can find at your store, but why they would want to shop there.

A consumer might go to a big-box store for a certain product, but if you offer excellent customer service, they’ll come to your business for you. Customer service as a big part of branding can never be overrated, especially for a localized business that survives and thrives based on connections and loyalty.

Related: How Local Mom and Pop Shops Are Conquering Big Box and E-commerce

Establish your aesthetic with a local touch

This is not to dismiss the visual aspects of branding or imply that these don’t matter. Your logo, as I said, is like telling your neighbors your name. It puts a label, a mental image, in their mind. Every time they see that logo afterward, your business’s reputation will come to the fore — and if it’s associated with a pleasant workforce and a shopping experience they can feel good about, then your branding is working hand in hand.

Investing in your community and participating in local events is an excellent way to market your brand and network with your target audience: your neighbors. Your visual branding works along with your brand personality at these events, too – make sure that your presence, whether at a booth or as a sponsor, is marked with your logo and your company colors to make it clearly identifiable. When your audience sees a logo they recognize, they’re more likely to come looking for faces they recognize, too.

One key point to remember when designing your visual branding is to avoid taking a page out of the big box playbook. While big businesses tend towards more generic marketing to “play it safe” with a broad audience, you have the gift of knowing your audience well. Do what you can to personalize your visual branding to your local area. Logos that include local landmarks or features, business names that include the name of the town or the family who runs the store — anything that ties your business to your area and lets everyone know that you’re at home there will help your store engender loyalty in your community.

A small business like a mom-and-pop store can be challenging to run in today’s environment and economy. But with careful attention to branding—in customer service, in your branded visuals, and in your brand personality—a small store can grow into something truly successful.



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Entrepreneurs Can Get a 1-Year Membership to Sam’s Club for Just $20


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

Save on everything you need to run your business (and your personal life) when you lock in a one-year Sam’s Club Membership for just $20 through July 7.

Life is expensive, especially for entrepreneurs. When you’re juggling the expenses of your personal life and the ones needed to run your business, it can become a significant drag on your budget. You need to find ways to save, and that doesn’t just mean cutting back on staff or opting for a lesser software subscription. Locking in daily savings is possible when you have a Sam’s Club Membership.

At Sam’s Club, members can access savings on everything they need for their business and personal lives. From office supplies and equipment to groceries, clothing, and much more, Sam’s Club members can peruse the aisles for wholesale prices unmatched by traditional retail. During our version of Prime Day, you can sign up for a one-year membership with auto-renew for just $20.

With this limited-time deal, you’ll get access to the exceptional variety at Sam’s Club, allowing you to save on a variety of products to help your business grow. Not only that, but you’ll also be able to access extra perks like savings on hotels, car rentals, live events, movies, and more.

Need to travel to a new city for a conference? Sam’s Club can help you save. Want to entertain a potential client at an event? You might be able to find a discounted price. No matter what you need, a membership grants you access to quality, convenience, and affordability in a single place. It’s a one-stop solution that simplifies your life and business.

It’s time to elevate your savings strategy with the help of Sam’s Club.

Now through 11:59 p.m. PT on July 7, you can get a one-year Sam’s Club Membership with auto-renew for just $20.

StackSocial prices subject to change.



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Every Great Business Partnership Have These 7 Elements in Common


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Partnerships in business are a dynamic and powerful way to propel a venture forward. They combine the strengths and resources of individuals to achieve shared goals. However, the success of a partnership hinges on careful planning and establishing a strong foundation.

Drawing from my experiences in both successful and challenging partnerships, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of making informed decisions from the outset to avoid potential pitfalls. In this review, we’ll examine key considerations that can shape a partnership’s trajectory, ensuring its longevity and success.

1. Sign a comprehensive partnership agreement

One cannot overstate the critical importance of a well-crafted partnership agreement. This document serves as the backbone of the partnership, delineating the terms, conditions and expectations that guide the relationship between partners. Prepared by a competent attorney, a solid partnership agreement is not just a formality but a strategic tool to preemptively address potential areas of contention. Without such an agreement, businesses may be entangled in legal disputes when critical decisions, such as selling the business or operational control. The cost of rectifying such issues far exceeds the investment in a robust partnership agreement.

Related: Most Business Partnerships Fail — 5 Hacks to Make Sure Yours Stays Intact

2. Distribute ownership

In the realm of partnerships, the distribution of ownership often dictates decision-making authority. In a 50/50 partnership, achieving equilibrium is crucial, but challenges can arise. It becomes imperative to establish mechanisms for resolving disputes in daily operations. If one partner holds the majority, safeguards must be in place to protect the interests of the minority owner. This protection extends to critical aspects such as owner compensation, business sale decisions, the inclusion of new partners and the exercise of daily operational control.

3. Establish financial contributions and equity distribution

Clarity in financial matters is paramount to a partnership’s success. Outlining how capital is contributed on day one sets the tone for a transparent and fair collaboration. In cases where one partner injects capital, and the other contributes expertise, a clear understanding of each party’s role is necessary. The controversial concept of “sweat equity” is challenged here, suggesting that equity should be commensurate with the financial risks undertaken rather than the sheer effort put into the business. It is crucial to establish not only the initial financial commitment but also a shared responsibility for future financial needs.

4. Delegate control and ensure transparency

The control of finances is often a sensitive matter in partnerships. Deciding who has authority over financial matters and ensuring transparency to all parties involved are critical steps in fostering trust. As the company begins to generate profits, disagreements may arise on the timing and distribution of these earnings. The potential for contention is especially pronounced during tax seasons. To avert such conflicts, partners should agree on the optimal amount of capital the company should retain and establish clear spending limits that require explicit permission.

5. Establish responsibilities and compensation

Defining roles and responsibilities from the outset is essential for harmonious collaboration. Each partner’s duties and the corresponding compensation should be clearly outlined, with a preference for role-based remuneration rather than ownership-based rewards. This approach reinforces the principle that work merits compensation, irrespective of the ownership stake. If the financial health of the company allows, compensating partners based on their roles fosters a sense of fairness and equality.

Related: Want to Grow Your Business? Here’s Why You Need Strategic Partnerships to Succeed.

6. Ensure your visions align

The partners’ vision for the company’s growth trajectory is pivotal. Unanimous agreement on the pace and nature of expansion prevents future conflicts. The strategy for growth, whether rapid expansion with potential financial strains or slow, steady growth with sustained profitability, requires alignment. In cases where expansion involves acquisitions, discussions on bringing in additional partners or securing external funding become paramount.

7. Planning for inevitability

While partnerships are born with optimism and shared aspirations, it is crucial to acknowledge that they will eventually end. Planning for the exit is as crucial as planning for the partnership’s inception. Agreements on a potential sale or partial sale should require unanimous consent from all partners to avoid impeding the process. In instances of unforeseen events, such as a partner’s death or disability, a well-defined buyout mechanism should be in place. This mechanism should safeguard the company’s financial stability, ensuring a smooth transition and a fair valuation process.

In conclusion, partnerships in business offer a potent means of scaling operations, sharing responsibilities and mitigating risks. However, the success of such collaborations hinges on meticulous planning and establishing clear agreements. A robust partnership agreement, addressing critical considerations ranging from financial contributions to responsibilities and exit strategies, lays the groundwork for a resilient and prosperous partnership. By prioritizing transparency, effective communication and fairness, partners can navigate challenges with confidence, transforming their collaborative efforts into a mutually beneficial opportunity that stands the test of time.



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What to Do When Personal Values Clash With Business Decisions


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Do you remember the times you were at a crossroads, debating with yourself about a choice that challenged your personal values and your business objectives? You’re not alone. Most entrepreneurs experience this kind of strife, but not every entrepreneur will verbalize all of the conflicts.

It is a sophisticated battleground with the lines between correct and wrong so fuzzy, and the choices you make can shape your history. In this article, I’ll share a few valuable tips you can use to navigate these situations.

Related: How to Become the Leader You Envision Without Sacrificing Your Values

1. Establish your core values

Determining your core values is a prerequisite in facing ethical obstacles. As a leader, values like integrity, transparency and sustainability can be your guiding principles, which you set not only for yourself but also for your company. When these values are clear and communicated correctly, they become a beacon, helping decision-making processes to be simpler and well-managed. The unambiguousness of those values serves as a yardstick to which all company actions are compared, and thus, everybody in the organization knows what is expected of them.

2. Understand the baggage right away

One of the most important skills for any leader is to be able to tell when his/her personal beliefs are at odds with business decisions. A lot of times, the first indication of an ethical challenge is a feeling of discomfort. This unease is not just a matter of emotion; it is a sign of your conscience, which is telling you that your values are being compromised. Acknowledging it early on is a must for you because it gives you the time to analyze the situation carefully, and you won’t make any rash decisions. It gives you an opportunity to form a strategy that is in line with your moral values.

3. Seek multiple perspectives

Ethical problems frequently do not yield simple responses, and what looks right one way around may not appear to be so from another point of view. Therefore, seeking several points of view is necessary. Connect with mentors, friends or any group with different perceptions to have more diverse opinions. Such a process can disclose new insights and may even bring in solutions that you would have never thought of. Another key advantage is that it makes sure the decision-making process is not only based on one set of experiences and backgrounds, which helps prevent the risk of bias.

4. Evaluate long-term impact

It may be tempting for a moment, but these shortcuts have long-term effects. When faced with a decision, it’s important to ask yourself about the long-term impacts: What is the consequence of this choice on my business in the next five, ten and twenty years? Would it hurt my reputation or my relationship with other people? Such aspects are crucial because they facilitate the drive toward sustainable growth and the observance of ethical standards, which are usually the pillars of longevity.

5. Create ethical safeguards

To avoid ethical conflicts and have your decisions a posteriori, that is, consistent with your business ethics, put in place robust ethical safeguards in your business operations. This could be a part of the process of creating an ethics committee or establishing a decision framework that focuses on your core values. This way, ethical principles are practically accessible to everyone through the organization’s hierarchy, and every decision is subjected to ethical scrutiny.

Related: Holding True to Your Values Is an Essential Decision-Making Metric

6. Be honest and open with your team

Transparency forms the basis for the establishment and strengthening of trust among team members. When an ethical crisis emerges, admitting the difficulties and how they might affect both personal and business values establishes a precedent of transparency and openness. Such honesty and openness will become a criterion for your enterprise culture. This is not just about trust building but also helping to develop a more engaged and ethically aware employee.

7. Integrate ethics into your brand

Nowadays, consumers are more and more inclined to buy from companies that have a code of ethics. Incorporating ethics into your brand’s storyline will make your business stand out and increase consumer confidence. This synergy builds a deeper connection with the audience because they believe that they are interacting with a brand that reflects their virtues.

8. Get ready to make tough decisions

Balancing personal ethics with business decisions sometimes demands making tough decisions. This might imply declining attractive chances or dissolving cooperation with efficient associates. These decisions are always hard, but they usually have to be done to preserve one’s integrity. The respect and loyalty gained from customers and employees in making these decisions can often far exceed the costs involved.

9. Consider and memorize every decision

Every decision is a learning experience. Analyzing the effectiveness of your choices — what worked, what didn’t and how you can improve — contributes to enhanced decision-making skills. Such a learning process is of utmost importance for more successful and confident dealings with future ethical issues.

10. Lead by example

Leadership is more about walking the talk than giving orders. Through constant decision-making that supports your ethical principles, you become an effective role model for your team. This leadership style not only cultivates an ethical positive climate but also inspires your team to uphold these standards in their own decision-making.

Related: Here’s Why Values Matter So Much in Business

It is not easy to navigate the dangerous waters where personal values and business decisions come together. Nonetheless, when you remain true to your core values, look for different opinions and consider making tough decisions, you can be assured that your business not only prospers but also contributes positively to the world around you.

Do not forget that the purpose of your business is not only to be successful but also to create a business that will speak for your values. This approach does not merely resolve clashes; it turns them into opportunities for growth. Rely on your ethics, and you will build a better business world with more ethical and prosperous firms.



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5 Effective Strategies for Building a High-Performing Global Team


Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Global expansion is a huge move for your business that can complicate matters when you want to increase the size of your team. Hiring qualified employees from abroad can be complicated. Many things have to be considered, including new rules or regulations in different countries that need to be followed and cultural differences that may also arise.

In the ever-changing global business environment, the use of appropriate technologies and strategies can set apart successful firms from average or struggling ones.

In light of this, how do you then put together an amazing global team? Through my own experience, I’ve discovered 5 key strategies that can set you and your team up for success.

1. Support workplace diversity and Inclusivity

If you establish an inclusive and efficient system culture across your globally expanding enterprise, then performance will increase immediately. However, one should also bear in mind that cultural disparities exist among team members from diverse backgrounds. You will need to create a workplace that respects and recognizes each person’s culture while also fostering an understanding of various traditions and opinions.

There’s a need for companies to consider various holidays people celebrate in different countries so as not to be seen as ignorant or insensitive by their own employees who come from other places. Common concerns revolve around non-verbal communication like gestures at work, dress codes in offices and how we relate with one another socially . One way out is by employing experts who specialize in diversity issues across cultures, such as customs or traditions, to ensure a safe and respectful work culture.

Related: Life’s Too Short to Work With Incompatible People — Follow These 3 Secrets To Building High-Performing Teams

2. Leverage EOR Service

If you are expanding your business globally, it may really help to hire an Employment of Record (EOR) service provider. An Employment of Record legally employs your team members in their local country on your behalf. It enables you to access the best skills from anywhere around the world without necessarily having to go through the lengthy procedure of first establishing foreign legal entities yourself.

When you partner with a good EOR, you get a bunch of sweet benefits:

  • Faster access to global talent: You can start building your team abroad as soon as possible instead of waiting months for all the legal paperwork to go through.
  • Less worry about compliance: EORs take care of handling all those local employment laws and HR requirements that give you headaches.
  • Cost savings: EORs have the expertise to help minimize your operational costs when hiring globally.
  • Flexibility: You can easily scale your global team up or down as your business needs change.
  • Specialized expertise: EORs have tons of experience helping companies expand globally the right way.

Lean on EOR specialists so you can focus less on annoying HR logistics and more on finding superstar talent around the world.

3. Invest in management training

To succeed globally, you need awesome managers across the board. That’s why strategy number three is to invest heavily in management training.

Make sure your managers are pros at leading global teams. A quality manager in a distributed team excels at nurturing career growth, making the most of their unique talents, ensuring smooth conflict resolution, and guiding through change and uncertainty. They build adaptability and psychological safety, encouraging open communication.

Additionally, the ability to encourage and inspire individuals as a manager will create an environment in which every team member feels welcomed and encouraged. Each one’s unique strengths can be recognized and leveraged for the success and cohesion of the team.

In fact, managers account for 70% of the variability in team engagement. Well-trained managers unite your global workforce and amplify your culture anywhere.

4. Focus on building trust

When your team is distributed worldwide, success depends a ton on trusting relationships. That’s why strategy number four is to focus on building trust and connections, even from afar.

Building trust in a global team requires participation in a variety of activities that promote bonding and camaraderie. Icebreaker games during meetings and setting up Slack channels for casual talk all help team members bond. Hosting virtual coffee talks or happy hours provides for socialization outside of work, whereas annual in-person offsite gatherings provide valuable face-to-face interactions.

Furthermore, it is critical to tailor communication techniques to each direct report, publicly acknowledge wins and progress, and listen deeply to understand different perspectives. These actions make team members feel appreciated, heard, and connected, ultimately building trust within the team.

When managers invest in relationships, their teams perform better. Trust accelerates team cohesion, collaboration and results.

Related: 10 Simple Steps to Build an Exceptional and Efficient Team

5. Set up clear communication channels

When organizing a clear communication protocol, time zone differences could become a major, even impactful, issue. Face-to-face meetings between team members may be nearly impossible when they work from different areas of the world. That’s where video conferences can ensure fast and efficient dialogue.

A number of video conferencing tools recently achieved global use as remote work grew in popularity. Tools like Zoom and Google Meet help businesses hold on-the-spot presentations, webinars, and team meetings with accurate, real-time visuals. They also give team managers the ability to arrange one-on-one check-in sessions with employees, allowing them to discuss workload and other relevant concerns.

Expanding your business globally does not always mean success. However, you can achieve this goal through careful planning, effective communication, and an all-inclusive corporate culture. Above all, using local collaborators in the form of an Employer of Record exponentially increases the chances of building a winning team.



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Apple: iPhone X, HomePod, AirPods ‘Vintage,’ Soon ‘Obsolete’


Three groundbreaking Apple devices — the iPhone X, HomePod, and original AirPods — are now considered vintage. And the clock is ticking on how long they will be eligible for repairs.

Apple added the three to its vintage product list on Monday, meaning that it stopped selling the products more than five, and less than seven, years ago.

Apple customers who use these devices are now facing a limited window when it comes to repairs. Apple Stores and authorized repair shops will only offer service for the iPhone X, HomePod, and original AirPods for up to two more years max, depending on the parts available.

Related: Will Apple AI Convince You to Upgrade Your Old iPhone?

The three products are all instantly recognizable as a major shift or addition to Apple’s product lineup.

The $999 iPhone X was the first Apple phone to switch from TouchID to FaceID, allowing users to unlock the iPhone X with a glance and swapping out a home button for an entirely touch-activated screen. Apple assured customers that it kept its facial scans out of the cloud to make the feature more secure.

Apple now has the majority of smartphone market share in the U.S., with about 53% of the market.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the launch of the iPhone X on September 17, 2017. (Photo by Qi Heng/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

The $349 HomePod was Apple’s first smart speaker; some users have called it a “significant and risky investment.” Apple sold an estimated three million HomePods in the U.S. by 2018, according to a Consumer Intelligence Research Partners report.

Since the original HomePod’s release, Apple has expanded the product line with the 2020 HomePod mini and the 2023 HomePod 2nd Generation.

Related: What’s Next for Apple After Vision Pro? Home Robots: Report

The $159 original AirPods were Apple’s way of “reinventing” wireless headphones, per the company’s 2016 press release.

Apple introduced an “innovative” charging case and a double-tap feature that allowed users to tap their AirPods to access Siri.

Devices on the vintage list end up in Apple’s “obsolete” category after they pass the seven-year mark. At that point, Apple withdraws hardware service and service stores can no longer order replacement parts.

Related: Apple iPhone 7 Settlement: How to Make a Claim By Deadline



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