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Entrepreneurship is an exciting path, laden with opportunities and challenges. A certain level of risk is involved in the entrepreneurial journey, and as one tests the waters, failures are inevitable. The key to growing and evolving for the better is to embrace setbacks—whether they’re your own or those of others—and transform them into potent lessons that can improve our ventures in significant ways. In an Entrepreneur article entitled ‘4 Core Strategies That Helped Me Turn Setbacks Into Success’, author Brandon Frazier highlights his tips for converting failures into business advantages. We’ve summed them up below. 1. Examine the shortcomings of your competitors, and aim to fill the gaps to really meet your customers’ needs. 2. Learn from your customers. Continuously request feedback and improve your offering by actively responding to constructive criticism. 3. Resist the urge to expand too quickly. Focus on your key offerings and finesse them before tapping into new opportunities. 4. Shift your mindset, and that of your team, to view failures as a potent source of motivation and valuable education. To learn more about the four key strategies for transforming setbacks into success, read the full article at Entrepreneur via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gVPtQfQs At YOZO, we’re here to help businesses grow and improve for the better. Discover your business’ borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan at yozo.com.au. #businessjourney #localbusiness #businesstips #australianbusiness #setbacks #challenges #entrepreneurship #businessjourneys

As the weather begins to warm up in anticipation of spring, branding trends are emerging that highlight the change of the seasons. Brighter days are just around the corner, and before we know it, we’ll be preparing for Christmas. Brands are beginning to gear up for their biggest season of the year by engaging in marketing initiatives that excite consumers and boost brand loyalty. A recent Trend Hunter report highlights the top 100 branding trends of this month, and the lineup features key themes such as collaborations, pop up stores, and interactive events. Here are a selection of the trends that feature in the rundown: • Wig pop-up shops • Ice cream sandwich pop-up shops • Luxurious cosmetic concept stores • Beachfront pop-up events • Hydration product collaborations • Cartoon x makeup collaboration ranges • Music inspired tequila partnerships • Gymnast beauty collaborations • Disney-inspired fashion ranges To discover the full compilation of August’s top 100 branding trends, visit Trend Hunter via the link below. https://lnkd.in/grXeYx2A At YOZO, we’re here to help businesses grasp the opportunities of the future. Uncover your borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan today at yozo.com.au. #trendhunter #trends #august #collaborations #themes #popupstores #springtime #interactive #branding

Young people are struggling with loneliness and the rising costs associated with dating, a recent Business Insider article states. In a world where everything costs more, the price tags attached to going on even the most economical of dates grow larger. Individuals such as Ben Keenan, a 31-year-old Seattle communications consultant and content creator, have adjusted their dating game to account for the ballooning costs of finding love. Daters are making changes like being more selective about who they meet up with for dates, and what sort of activities they participate in with their love interests, to stay on top of their dating budgets. In conjunction with the increasing costs of dating in the physical world, the price of using dating apps is also rising. As a more extreme example, according to an article published in The Times, Tinder announced a new subscription option that costs a whopping US$499 per month at the end of last year. Dating app users quickly find that costs add up: to increase the odds of finding love on dating apps, users pay for additional features and access, the Business Insider article highlights. For those who have grown tired of the dating app game, there's a new crop of speed-dating events popping up. These also come with a price tag, and they often sell out. Learn more about the rising cost of finding love at Business Insider via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gDbKDzCH At YOZO, we're here to help businesses as they face the new opportunities and challenges of today's world. To discover your business' borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan, visit yozo.com.au. #inflation #businesscosts #yozofinance #datingapps #costsoflove #speeddating #locallove #dating #modernlove #businessideas #economy

Eco-anxiety affects a high proportion of the population. According to an APA survey from 2020, 47% of adult respondents who were aged under 35 years reported being affected by eco-anxiety in their daily lives. Eco-anxiety has been defined as “a chronic fear of environmental doom” (APA and ecoAmerica, 2017), and it can have a significant impact on individuals' lives. According to the American Psychological Association, eco-anxiety can manifest as mild stress to clinical disorders including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and even suicide. A recent Forbes article highlights the workplace impacts of eco-anxiety. Workers who are impacted by eco-anxiety experience poorer wellbeing which can lead to a loss of productivity. While a 2022 IBM study found that sustainability was important for most employees, only 21% of participants thought their current employers were sustainable. As the Forbes article states, employers have the opportunity to ease their workers' eco-anxiety and convert them into powerful allies in their climate-action initiatives. Here's how: 1. Firstly, ensure employees are educated and informed about climate-related developments. 2. Involve employees in your organisation's environmental initiatives and seek their help. 3. Give employees the opportunity to directly influence environmentally sustainable outcomes. To learn more, visit the full article on Forbes. https://lnkd.in/gGwTTH5C At YOZO, we're here to help businesses reach their future goals. Discover your business' borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent loan at yozo.com.au. #ecoanxiety #sustainability #environmental #initiatives #workplace #culture #employees #yozofinance #workplaceculture

Shoplifting has been rising across Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and more recently, the surge has been fueled by the growing cost of living. According to the Crime Statistics Agency, shoplifting spiked by almost 40% in the year ending September 30, 2023. In the US, many businesses are concerned about rampant retail theft, although the average US shoplifting rate remains below pre-pandemic levels (Statista). Despite the overall shoplifting rate decreasing between 2018 and 2023, many major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston and San Francisco, experienced a rise in shoplifting incidents during this period (Statista). As a recent Business Insider article highlights, a growing number of US general stores are resorting to locking up their merchandise as a way of combatting theft. Consumers have witnessed—and broadcast on social media platforms like TikTok—items such as peanuts and water locked up under anti-theft protection. With the majority of consumers attracted to shopping at drugstores for convenience, these anti-theft measures are a major turnoff. In Global Data analyst Neil Saunders' words: "If you put roadblocks in there with locking things up and not having the staff to unlock cabinets, you've destroyed your reason for existence." Could drastic anti-theft measures be on the horizon for Australian stores as shoplifting levels continue to rise? To read the full article about locked-up merchandise in US stores, click the link below to visit Business Insider. https://lnkd.in/g86_jb6E At YOZO, we're dedicated to helping businesses thrive, today and in the future. Discover your business' borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan at yozo.com.au. #shoplifting #stores #drugstores #retailtheft #antitheft #localbusiness #yozofinance #yozo #crime #retailindustry

Workers are heading back to the office in droves, but their focus isn't following them. A recent Forbes article entitled 'A Noisy Office Is A Nuisance—And A Business Opportunity' highlights that employees who are returning to the office are having a hard time being productive in their disruptive work environments. Chad West, who is the vice president of marketing at Argent, a crypto smart wallet business, estimates that the distractions and noise at his open-plan office make him 40% less productive than at home. He's not the only one who feels that their ability to get work done in the office has fallen significantly since before the pandemic. A plethora of brands are answering the cries of disgruntled employees and businesses who are struggling to get work done in the office. From nature-inspired soundscapes to noise-reducing furniture, noise-cancelling headphones, and acoustic pods, the solutions are diverse and come from a variety of industries. To learn more about the business opportunities that are arising from office distractions, click the link below to read the full article at Forbes. https://lnkd.in/gJh4vuQk At YOZO, we're dedicated to helping businesses grasp the opportunities of the present. Visit yozo.com.au to discover your business' borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan today. #distractions #natureinspired #soundscapes #office #businessopportunities #workplace #noise #disruptions #localbusiness #entrepreneurs #smallbusiness #focus

Baby boomers are tapping into the benefits of technology and discovering how digital devices can change their lives for the better. For this generation, however, the curve for learning new technologies can be steep, and many individuals find the process daunting. In response to this problem, boomer-focused digital literacy programs have been adopting conversational approaches to IT education. A Trend Hunter article highlights that these new training techniques create a casual learning environment, making training feel like a conversation between friends. Many boomer-targeted digital literacy education resources have integrated artificial intelligence into their programs, claiming that AI-enhanced mentorship addresses loneliness in addition to helping users adopt technology. Social networks designed specifically for seniors, such as Senior Planet Community, provide boomers with an online space for users to connect with one another, fostering engagement through support and digital literacy services. In addition, apps such as Grandie's virtual assistant aim to further enhance the digital experience for older generations, providing on-demand guidance for users as they utilise their technology and programs. It's not only software that is being targeted towards seniors—the GrandPad (sold by the company that released the Grandie virtual companion) is a tablet that is specifically designed for the older generation of tech users. To learn more about the trend of conversational education, visit the Trend Hunter report via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gz9MvkBj At YOZO, we’re dedicated to helping businesses thrive. Discover your business’ borrowing limit, and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan today at yozo.com.au. #seniors #technology #training #conversationalai #artificialintelligence #localbusiness #techusers #educationresources #boomers

According to research performed by the American Psychological Association, it is estimated that US businesses lose approximately US$300 billion per year due to direct and indirect effects, including employee turnover, low productivity, and absenteeism. As a recent Fast Company article highlights, when employees are bullied at work, their ability to perform in their roles is significantly impacted. Bullying has a detrimental impact on mental health and wellbeing; it can cause anxiety and depression, and can lead to a deterioration in self-confidence and self-esteem. The presence of bullying in a workplace can cause a toxic work culture, amplifying stress levels and making it difficult for employees to focus on and enjoy their work. The actions of bullies cause the quality of their victims' work to plummet, reducing productivity, engagement and creativity. A company's reputation may be affected if they become associated with a toxic culture of bullying, and employees may even sue an organisation over the harm they experienced while working there. So how do we stop workplace bullies, and their toxic behaviours, from wreaking havoc on our employees and our business as a whole? Once bullying has been identified, leadership must publicly declare that it exists in the organisation, and inform the workforce that it needs to stop. Be on the lookout for instances of workplace bullying, and create a safe environment for workers to talk openly about bullying that they have experienced or witnessed. A culture of accountability must be established, and positive behaviour should be praised, while dignity and respect should be used to deal with negative behaviour. To learn more about the impacts of workplace bullying and how to deal with it, access the full article at Fast Company via the link below. https://lnkd.in/gg6ER_rQ At YOZO, we exist to help businesses thrive through the challenges that may present themselves. To discover your business' borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent loan, visit yozo.com.au. #bullying #workplace #culture #bottomline #yozo #yozofinance #business #workplaceculture #toxicworkplace

We're gearing up for Monday tomorrow, and as business owners, many of us will be digging deep to find the motivation we need to power through the week ahead. Running a business can be seriously taxing; burnout is common amongst entrepreneurs who have a great deal resting on their shoulders. Sometimes, we need a boost of motivation to help us perform at our peak. An article published on business.com highlights 10 tips that can help business owners stay motivated. We've summed them up below: 1. Shift your mindset Don't let the fear of failure hold you back. Stay positive, and believe in yourself and your team. Self-doubt is not welcome here. 2. Practise medication and reflect on your productivity Understand what is required to complete your workload. Break down large tasks so that they aren't overwhelming. Meditate and practise mindfulness to shift your mindset to one of positivity and strength. 3. Surround yourself with people who are motivational, who share your goals and your positive mindset. 4. Ensure you have a strong mission statement to keep yourself and your employees on track. 5. Take care of your mental wellbeing. If you notice that your motivation comes and goes, this could be related to your mental health. Being stressed pushes up your cortisol and may cause you to feel tired and depressed. Look after your mental health and your motivation levels are more likely to stay high. 6. Look after your physical health, too. Drink lots of water, eat balanced meals, exercise and make time for adequate sleep. 7. Plan ahead and schedule. Make note of all the things you aim to accomplish and schedule them in to ensure you achieve them on time. 8. Create a schedule that suits you, personally. If you are a night owl, for instance, configure your day so that you have ample time to work in the evening. 9. Keep track of your achievements to boost your drive. Reward yourself when you hit milestones and frequently look back on what you've already accomplished. 10. Stick to a routine. It takes the average person two to three months to establish a new habit, according to The British Journal of Health Psychology. To stay on track, create a routine and adhere to it long enough to make your positive work structure a habit. To learn more, visit the full article on business.com via the link below. https://lnkd.in/dAAwAuC At YOZO, we exist to help businesses thrive. Discover your business' borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan at yozo.com.au today. #entrepreneur #motivation #strength #habits #tips #structure #focus #routine #yozo #finance #mentalhealth

When you're running a business, it can seem impossible to find a balance between work and your personal life. Although work, and being a business owner, can be rewarding and a sense of pride, overworking can lead to negative mental health and have a detrimental impact on personal relationships. A recent article published by Business Insider pinpoints three signs that indicate your work could be taking over your life, and offers advice on how to stop it from doing so, before you burn out. 1. Checking your work emails is the first and last thing you do every day. Try to set boundaries around when you check your work emails, and learn to say no to work-related tasks that you don't have time for. 2. Working unnecessarily long hours. Multitasking can be counterproductive. Remove distractions to boost your focus and get through your work faster. 3. You talk about work more than anything else when you're at home. If your friends and loved ones are complaining that work is all you ever talk about, that's a sure sign that work is dominating your life. Ensure you make space to examine what brings you joy in the workplace, and make time to participate in non-work activities that energise you. To read the full article, click the link below to visit Business Insider. https://lnkd.in/g-vZc-kn At YOZO, we're dedicated to helping SMEs, and the people that run them, thrive. Discover your borrowing limit and apply for a fast, simple, and transparent business loan at yozo.com.au. #worklifebalance #balance #worklife #wellbeing #mentalhealth #socialwellness #relationships #workinglonghours #entrepreneur #yozo