Reasons Why Companies Choose To Stay Private In Recent Times

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May 30, 2023

Over the years, companies used to anticipate the times they would go public on the stock exchange floor. Going public for companies was the trend. Many company owners would dream of gonging the bell to open trading at the New York Stock Exchange. But, in recent times, there has been a paradigm shift. Many companies now prefer to stay private. Statistics even show that the number of companies that stay public dropped by 52% from the late 1990s to 2016. Here are some insights into the reasons for this latest trend.

It is essential to know that there is still an increasing passion for entrepreneurship in these times. But the idea of making companies go public has dropped abruptly. One major reason why companies now want to stay private is that they want to avoid the increasing numbers of regulations from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It is widely believed that the regulations are restricted to companies that trade publicly. So, to avoid being bound by these restrictions, they decide to stay private.

Another reason companies choose to stay private is to keep their business(es) in control. Privately traded companies are always able to exercise a higher level of control over their business. For instance, when they go private, the business (es) can be kept in the control of a select few or family members. So, these companies are not subject to the influence of any shareholders.

Furthermore, companies choose to stay private to avoid the volatility that is faced by publicly traded companies. That is because employees of privately traded companies can focus on their jobs. They don’t have to worry about the “ups and downs” of the stock market.

Again, companies often choose to stay private to avoid the substantial risk of an initial public offering. However, this is not to say that IPO is bad. It is very effective for companies that have access to large capital. But it is always very risky for companies that are just growing. The WeWork IPO debacle is an example of one such hazard of IPO.

In conclusion, a company can either go public or private. Both options are beneficial and viable. The most important thing is that companies should go for what best suits them.

Why a sole trader could benefit from the use of a virtual phone system

By

Dustin Garza, Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2023

Why a sole trader could benefit from the use of a virtual phone system

A sole trader is defined as a one person business who runs their business without employees and solely through their own efforts. Sole trader businesses can be profitable; however, they are usually limited to smaller sized companies which have a low output, but enough to make a profit. A sole trader is a good choice for many people who believe they have the skills to make a product or a service on their own, and the nuances and complexities can be handled by one person. A virtual phone system is used by companies of all sizes, from sole traders to small to medium enterprises and large corporations. It may seem like a sole trader could just use a landline and be fine in their business, which in most cases could be true. However, the many features that come with the use of these platforms be highly beneficial to those who are sole traders.

The landline is dead

The landline has served the people for a long time now and has served them well. The age of technology has ushered in a number of different types of products which dwarf older and now obsolete devices, and a virtual phone system does exactly that. The landline is limited to the use of hardware which needs to be wired into a set location and hooked up to a phone line. While this makes it easy for those who stay in one location, in a fast paced world, many entrepreneurs and businesspeople opt to stay on the move. Whether that be for meetings and client facing situations, or because they work other jobs too. The virtual phone system presents an opportunity to be able to make and receive calls regardless of your location, as long as a device and Internet connection is present.

The landline is dead, all hail the virtual phone system!

Personalized numbers

The virtual phone system allows sole traders to be able to personalize their numbers to one that suits their business. Often you may see those businesses with numbers that spell out a word related to their field, or maybe they want a number that is easy to recognize and remember. Regardless of whether the purpose is for creativity or marketing, the virtual phone system allows the sole trader to have a unique number which is personalized and recognizable for their customers and clients.

Personal voicemails

One of the most important parts of customer engagement is to be able to make the customer feel like they matter. When calling into a sole trader business after hours, a virtual phone system is able to create a voicemail that informs the customer of afterhours calls or can redirect them to another number. This is a feature exclusive to a virtual phone system and can help to increase customer engagement and satisfaction subsequently.

Appear more professional

The use of a virtual phone system can help a sole trader to look more professional and larger than they are. It is true that customers will likely opt for a company that appears bigger and is more professional, and a virtual phone system can give off that professional look. This is because the majority of large corporations will use a virtual phone system. With a sole trader using one, they can look more professional and bigger, helping to secure customers. It is vital to be professional, especially when you are in a market that is highly competitive, like much of the business world. Any competitive advantage is a good one, no matter how slight the advantage.

5 Major Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Business, According to Entrepreneur Corey Shader

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Dustin Garza, Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2023

Major Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Business, According to Entrepreneur Corey Shader

No matter how much business experience you have, you’re likely to face problems at some stage of your new business. Entrepreneur Corey Shader says that bad practices and mistakes unfortunately accompany many business startups, and they can be their undoing.

It’s important to understand some of the most common mistakes startups make so that you can avoid falling prey to those same pitfalls. Here are five major mistakes to avoid when starting a business.

1. Not Having a Business Plan

The famous saying is that if you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail. Every business, no matter the industry or size, needs to have a well-thought-out business plan.

This will help guide the business from the ground level all the way through growth stages and more. This plan helps keep you focused on the goal and can serve as the blueprint for success as you bring people on board to your team.

2. Not Having Enough Money

A leading reason why many new businesses fail is that they aren’t properly capitalized. You never really know what’s going to come your way in business, so it’s always best to have more money on hand than you think you need.

In addition to over-planning when it comes to startup capital, it’s also important to set money aside over time for a business “rainy day fund.” This will help you weather unexpected storms and stay afloat without needing to take desperate measures that can sink you.

3. Not Knowing Your Market

You might have a great idea, but is it going to be successful? A lot of that will depend on how you separate yourself from the competition, but that’s next to impossible if you don’t even know the competition.

All business startups should go through an analysis stage where they take a look at the current market to see what’s out there. Then, you can create differentiating factors that will serve as your marketing pitch points.

Going hand-in-hand with knowing the market is knowing your target customer. Being able to clearly define who your targets are will help guide your process.

4. Not Asking for Help

Many entrepreneurs think they’re superheroes who can do it all themselves. Successful entrepreneurs will surround themselves with talented people at all levels — as advisors, employees, partners and a pair of listening ears.

You never have to go it alone in business. Attract and hire talented individuals who can help you realize your business dreams.

5. Not Planning Expansions

Expansion is key if you want to build a lasting business. Corey Shader points out, though, that ill-timed or poorly-planned expansion can ruin a business overnight.

Before taking on a new project, launching a new product line or opening another location, you need to make sure that you have sufficient resources to do so. This includes the proper funding, the proper staffing and the proper planning so nothing in your core business gets left behind when you embark on the expansion.

About Corey Shader

Corey Shader is a self-made entrepreneur, consultant, investor, real estate developer, and founder of several companies, notably Insurance Pipeline. Operating primarily out of Ft. Lauderdale, Corey’s endeavors span across the nation, consulting for start-ups, and sitting on the board of digital media and senior healthcare agencies. As a consultant, Corey helps young businesses develop sales funnels and maximize profitability. Shader takes pride in challenging others to push themselves to be their very best — he believes in constant self-improvement, inspiring others through sharing his own life experiences.

How Jeff Bezos Made His Billions: A Guide To Self-Employment

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Ken Cameron, Editorial Staff

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May 30, 2023

Jeff Bezos is popularly known as the founder and CEO of Amazon, an online store and multinational technology company. He is also the founder of Blue Origin, a sub-orbital spaceflight services and aerospace manufacturing company. Bezos launched Amazon in 1994 as an online bookstore, and it has since grown to become virtually an everything store.

Are you self-employed? Is your business not moving as quickly as you’d hoped it would? Let’s examine some of Jeff Bezos’ top qualities. Without a doubt, they’ll kick start your journey to success.

Learn to take reasonable risks. When Jeff Bezos started out, he exuded a willingness to undertake risk. Having a regular paying job at D.E. Shawn on Wall Street, he gave it up to pursue his dreams. He began the company at a Seattle garage, despite it having a 30% success probability. There were prominent physical book stores that owned the market at the time. However, he believed taking his business online was going to overtake them. And it sure did.

Become more resourceful. Bezos was very resourceful and had a clear vision for expansion. Studying the current trends at the time, he realized the Internet was the way forward and took advantage of it. After three years of selling just books, he expanded the company to include audio and video CDs. In subsequent years, he kept adding more products to the store. Bezos had a clear vision of what he wanted from the onset, and he remained relentless in spreading his branches to virtually everything.

Again, if you’re going to succeed as a self-employed entrepreneur, you must master the art of adaptation and immediate response to setbacks. Did you know that, in 2002, Amazon was at the brink of bankruptcy? Hard to imagine, right? But, at that point, Bezos responded adequately to the situation. He closed down some distribution centers and laid off a fraction of the staff. With other strategic actions put in place, Amazon was back on its feet the following year.

The life and journey of Jeff Bezos to wealth is definitely a must-study for anyone self-employed. There’s a whole lot to learn from him. Have a broad vision, be ready to take risks, and take strategic steps to overcome setbacks, amongst other. With the right mindset and actions, you can be on the path to excellence in your self-employment career.

The Frightening Number Of Sexual Assault Allegations Against Trump

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Jasmine McAuley, Editorial Staff

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May 2, 2023

United States presidents have often been accused of sexual assaults or extramarital affairs, but no American president has faced the number of sex allegations Donald Trump has faced. Since 1978, more than 25 women have accused Donald Trump of rape or sexual assault.

Barry Levine and Monique El-Faizy went further to publish the book titled; “All the president’s women: Donald Trump and the making of a predator.” The book contained about 43 allegations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump.

The book was not the only book to contain some of Trump’s sexual allegations. Jean Carroll also published her book titled “What do we need men for.” The writer documented her sexual assault by Trump though the billionaire denied the claims and accused her of promoting her book with the allegations.

In May 2016, the New York Times went further to conduct 50 interviews with women who had close ties with Donald Trump during the career. The report was published in the article “Crossing the line: How Trump behaved with women in private.” The report recorded a mixed reaction from the women, with some taking the sides of the president while others discussed their ugly encounter with Trump.

Trump’s divorced wife, Ivana, was one of the alleged victims of Donald Trump. The allegation of the sexual assault resulted in their divorce in 1990. Ivana has often been quiet about the allegation, citing a confidentiality clause in their divorce, which prevented her from discussing their affairs in public. It is commonly believed that the two later became friends years later.

Jill Harth is also one of the women who have accused Trump of sexual assault. She filed a lawsuit against Trump in 1997 though the incident occurred in 1992. Harth accused Trump of non-consensual groping of her body and relentless sexual assault. Harth also made it clear that the assault was non-violent. Trump also denounced the allegation and tagged it “malicious.” In 2016, Harth later worked in one of Trump’s rallies as a makeup artist.

Other women such as Jessica Leeds, Kristin Anderson, Lisa Boyne, Mariah Billado, and Victoria Hughes have also accused Trump of sexual assault though some voiced their opinion through the #MeToo movement, a platform where women voiced out their oppression.

Donald Trump was not the first American president to be accused of sexual misconduct. Washington, Jefferson, and William Henry were believed to have sexually harassed their slaves, while others such as Bill Clinton, George Bush, Franklin Roosevelt, and John Kennedy were accused of sexual assault by various women.

Undoubtedly, Donald Trump’s controversial reputation affected his support while in office, and no America’s president has faced such a long list of sexual assault.

3 characteristics of a professional virtual phone system

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Dustin Garza, Editorial Staff

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May 2, 2023

A virtual phone system is necessary for any business nowadays, and the demand for their implementation and purchase has skyrocketed in the past 10 years. Because of the high demand increase, many companies have fallen in line to cash in. Often, this means that subpar products can be released which do not provide some of the functionality that others may and may not be worth the money.

If you are looking to upgrade your business communication and implement a virtual phone system, then you will need to wade through a sea of products. It can become complex when looking for which one to choose, as a virtual phone system needs to fit perfectly into your environment and situation to receive the most benefits possible.

There are certain characteristics to look out for when looking for a professional virtual phone system, as these will determine whether the product is professional and worth paying for. A virtual phone number can provide a huge number of benefits which make them essential for a business operation, and these benefits come from the functionality, convenience and accessibility that come with the product. However, you will only be able to reap these benefits if you choose the right product.

Here are 3 characteristics of a professional virtual phone system:

After hours greeting and call transfer

A virtual phone system is able to provide customers with after hours greetings and call transfer options. You may have experienced these before, as they work to keep the customer engaged and connected even after work hours. If a customer calls after work hours, the virtual phone system will be able to tell them that the business is currently closed and when it will reopen. This is effective, as often customers can become frustrated when a call will not go through and they are unaware that the business is closed. Having the greeting will inform them and ensure they do not waste their time. Moreover, a virtual phone system is able to provide the customer with options to direct their call to the correct person. Doing so means that the customer will be able to engage and connect with an employee who can help them with their enquiry, rather than wasting time finding out who is best for them. It also expresses an image of professionalism and can help to increase productivity amongst the employees. Customer image of the brand is also important and having call transfer options conveys the professionalism of your business through the use of a virtual phone system.

Call recording

Call recording is another characteristic of a virtual phone system. Call recording is an important feature to utilize, as it allows you to use the recordings for training purposes or to analyse for later use. With traditional systems, it can be difficult to record calls and often requires external hardware in order to do so, which can increase costs unnecessarily. With a virtual phone system, call recording is an in built feature which should be utilized for just about any call. Call recordings can act as data which can be analysed so that customer behaviour can be tracked, and strategic decisions made based on this data. This is especially helpful for businesses within certain sectors such as finance, as well as for businesses which want to implement voice recognition for their customers and products. You may have encountered these types of calls, where you can use a spoken phrase to access an account. Call recording is required for this to work, and therefore a virtual phone system is necessary for this level of sophistication.

Conference calling

Conference calling is a necessity within the business world nowadays. More often than not, you will need to have conference calls with multiple customers and/or other businesses. Using traditional hardware can make this difficult, and the process can be complex to link multiple callers into one call. With a virtual phone system, the ability to group multiple callers into one call is simple and is a built in feature of any virtual phone system.

In summary, a virtual phone system will have many characteristics that you should look out for before purchasing. The aforementioned characteristics are the basics that you should look out for in a virtual phone system to ensure that it is worth paying for.

Investment In The Billionaire’s Club

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Melissa Playford, Editorial Staff

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May 1, 2023

Since the start of the 21st century, household names such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison have been at the top of the billionaire rich list. Therefore, it is important to learn one or two lessons from their distinctive understanding of making money.

Of the over 500 billionaires in the United States, 363 are self-made. The high rank of self-made billionaires is followed by 105 who have achieved the exclusive billionaire status through inherited wealth and hard-earned wealth. The remaining 117 billionaires became wealthy as a result of wealth passed down as an heirloom.

However, the above stat is the most popular one used to justify the wealth of billionaires. Although it is true, it does not fully express popular paths taken by billionaires to make their money. The fact is that billionaires did not just appear with 10 digits. Most of them toiled the critical finance and investment industry.

Given the recent boom in technology, it is easy to think that there are more tech geeks than members of the finance and investing list in the billionaire cadre. Of the top 10 billionaire making industries, finance and investments topped the list with 14%. The second industry on the list is the fashion and retail industry who had 11%. Real estate and technology industries came in as third and fourth, respectively, with 10.4 and 10.0 percent.

Without a doubt, an investment can be in real estate. Hence a whopping 24.4% of the Three Comma Club came about their wealth through one form of investment or the other. Investment is the only money-making strategy that unifies all billionaires. What many of these billionaires do is diversification. They put their money in different places.

Let’s take the tech giant, Bill Gates, as a case study. The former Microsoft CEO owns 54,912,525 shares of Berkshire Hathaway. Waste Management, Inc. comes in at second as Bill’s second-largest holding with over 18.6 million shares. Even though speculations say Apple and Microsoft are bitter enemies, Bill Gates bought 501,044 shares in the apple stock.

In conclusion, investment portfolios are what billionaires use to increase their money on multiple fronts. Warren Buffet, the most influential investor of all time, said, “The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself…”

Public Speaking Tips From Barrack Obama

By

Ken Cameron, Editorial Staff

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April 30, 2023

It’s no news that Barrack Obama is regarded as one of the most notable orators of our time. His eloquence and depth of speech have spurred crowds into action many times. In fact, his public speaking skills are one of the endearing qualities that led him to be elected as the 44th president of the United States.

Imagine for a moment that you can address your counterparts and other notable members of society with the oratory prowess of Obama. That would be a big win for your career, right? In each of Obama’s speeches, we’ve noticed a pattern. These have been curated here as his public speaking tips. If you want to keep your audience spellbound, try out the following tips.

First, begin on a light mood even when it’s a serious address. Obama does this often by either making a light joke or commenting about a subject everyone can relate to. This usually puts the listeners in a relaxed mood and more receptive. It makes them want to keep hearing as well.

Also, get personal with your audience. In his speeches, Obama speaks about himself and his family. This warms up the listeners to him. They are reminded that he has much the same experiences as they do. So, make use of empathy to captivate your audience’s attention.

It is important you are well aware of your audience. When Obama makes a speech to a particular set of people, he speaks with a peculiarity to that audience. And when he speaks to the world, he carries everyone along. Regardless of where you’re from, you can resonate with what he has to say and even feel like he’s speaking directly to you.

Now, there are other things to note. For instance, ensure you hit your message clearly with punchlines. Making a long speech can sometimes have your listeners unsure of the crux of your message. This isn’t the case with Obama. He emphasizes his points with strong punchlines you’re bound to ponder upon. He then pauses for you to do just that. That’s how you make a statement!

The art of public speaking can’t be developed overnight. It can, however, be cultivated with time and practice. In this article, you must have learned a few tips on how Barack Obama does it effortlessly, and how you can do the same. Don’t forget to practice!

The Motion Picture And Video Industry In The US

By

Brooke Mills, Staff Editorial

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April 30, 2023

The motion picture can also be referred to as the movie or film. It is a series of still pictures on film being displayed in quick succession on a screen through the means of light. With the persistence of vision, it gives the illusion of continuous and smooth movement. It has become perhaps the most influential and popular media of the 21st century. It is now further developed as an artistic and creative expression in diverse areas like cinematography, music, acting, screenwriting, costume, and design, of which all is quite prevalent in the US.

What It Produces

The United States motion picture industry is known to produce some of the world’s feature films and recorded TV programs as we know it. Also, the industry is noted to further produce music videos, documentaries as well as commercials. Post-production services include film and tap transfers, editing, credits, titling, subtitling, closed captioning, animation, special effects, and computer-produced graphics.

The industry is influenced by many large studios, which are mostly based in Hollywood. However, with the ever-growing popularity and worldwide availability of cable TV, computer graphics and editing software, digital video recorders, and the Internet, other independent filmmaking companies have emerged to fill the increasing demands for entertainment content.

Revenue Range of the US Motion Picture and Video Industry & the Key Players

A good idea can be summed up to the year 2018, when the industry generated its highest revenue from TV programs to domestic licensing of rights, as it brought in over a whopping 15 billion US dollars, and the estimated total revenue for that year amounted to 69.9 billion US dollars for the entire US motion picture and video production & distribution industry. Since 2005, the estimated revenue generated hardly ever falls below 60 billion US dollars, and that’s largely accredited to the big industry folks like Universal Studios, Walt Disney, Sony Pictures, and Warner Media, who have been successful in the business.

In sum, this goes to say that the Motion picture and video industry in the US is booming with no signs of slowing down, as it remains relevant in also accommodating prospective giants and highly artistic and creative media enthusiasts in a fertile industry.

Stephen Mcmennamy’s Creativity: The Role Of Digital Art

By

George Butler, Editorial Staff

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April 30, 2023

The advent of computers opened new doors in nearly all walks of life. This includes commerce, medicine, engineering, and even visual art. Despite the criticism from the art traditionalists, digital art has provided newer considerations to creativity with its introduction of 2D and 3D designs, animations, digital drawing and painting, and many more. Now, this variety in the world of art has allowed for more flexibility. In other words, more niches have been created for the artist to explore his creativity.

Digital art refers to the branch of new media that uses computer-generated lines, shapes, colors, and textures (digital technology) to produce artwork. The development of this type of art has made the scopes of art change, including drawing, painting, and sculpture, and even film making. These changes are due to the introduction of new techniques for visual effects and animation.

Aspiring artists can find various niches for themselves and even create new ones. Thus, when Stephen McMennamy created an image of a dog with a mushroom head, and people loved it, it shows us that digital art gives more room for creativity and that all absurdities are welcomed.

McMennamy, who termed his genre as Combophotos, explains that his art involves fusing two unrelated items creatively to create one unique image. Not only does his wild image fascinate the viewer, but McMennamy fictitious mashups are also beautiful. His humorous juxtapositions involve splicing two items or scaling them to create an unexpected image.

With a significant following on Instagram, the conceptual artist has grown a lot of popularity on social media for something he considers a hobby. The Atlanta based art director has also worked with numerous companies as he continually preaches his gospel of digital art.

In conclusion, we can say that McMennamy has demonstrated a unique show of digital consideration in art. He has grown to become a significant force in propagating the digital art message and has been an adherent since he began in 2014. It would be a boost for the upcoming artists for better consideration of digital art.