With the economy in a recession, business growth is more necessary than ever in order for businesses to survive. Since most businesses are small businesses, it is important to understand the latest small business trends and then use those trends to grow. The current projections for small business is that they will continue to grow throughout 2016.

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Your body language is a fundamental part of who you are; chances are you do not even think about how you stand, sit, and move. You should, of course, because other people instinctively pick up the nonverbal signals you send.

Oddly enough, you also pick up on your own nonverbal signals. Gestures and postures make a dramatic impact on how you think, feel, and perform.

Want to use body language to be an even better you? Here are ten simple ways:

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Everyone by now is well aware that IT networks are subject to various cyber threats, and small and medium size businesses (SMBs) must protect against them just as larger enterprises do. But these threats are not limited to the online world. SMBs also have to protect the IT equipment itself from physical dangers.

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Great communication skills are a powerful tool to have in your arsenal. Here are eight proven strategies that will improve yours today.

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A New Year has arrived, along with some big security challenges.

In 2017 the expected proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices across all types of environments will make it tough to ignore the security ramifications. The continued popularity of the cloud will continue to attract the attention of cyberattackers and ransomware authors will keep the IT security industry on its toes.

Here are some of the small business security trends to follow going into a brand-new year.

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On the lists 10th anniversary, we asked the founders of 25 of the 142 remarkable companies that have earned a spot on the Inc. 500/5000 list 10 times or more to reveal how they have sustained and managed hypergrowth. What follows is a sampling of their sage advice

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The big question therefore is: are you prepared for a cyber attack? Small business credit provider Headway Capital, has compiled data to help you check yourself.

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Here are five things in technology that happened this past week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?

1 — Googles secret to protect its employees from hacking is physical keys.

Google has announced a robust solution for phishing cyberattacks against its employees. The company says the adoption of physical Security Keys has stopped the attacks. Security Keys are small USB stick devices made by companies like YubiKey that function similar to two-factor authentication (2FA) methods its employees may already be using.

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No. 1: First, have a pretty good idea of what you are getting into before you start. Running a company is not a 9-to-5 occupation. And much, if not most, of running a business has little to do with the quality of the product or service you sell. You have to work long, hard and smart. And learn new things. Fifty percent of new businesses close (not fail) during the first five years, often because their owners didn’t realize how much time, expense and uncertainty would be involved.  

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How to Get Traffic to Your Website

In building this strategy, it can help to get input from the experts who have been there before. Here are some tips and tricks ranging from content creation to SEO to social media from digital marketing experts around the web.

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This past year, 2018, has been a very good one for innovation. We've seen the blockchain boom, the increase in low-code and no-code app development, the start of the rollout of 5G technology and AI and AR: All came into their own with countless programs and applications for both business and consumer life.

On the coattails of such a year, I believe that 2019 has the opportunity to show even more promise. Here are the trends I predict we will see in small businesses and across the industry as a whole:

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Small businesses can be more vulnerable to cyberattacks than larger companies because they often do not have sophisticated and comprehensive systems to protect themselves from hackers, viruses, malware and whats called ransomware. And owners who are focused on customers and employees may not ensure that their defenses are up to date.

But there are things small businesses can do to improve cybersecurity.

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About one third of small business owners still do not have a website. Some might not want to invest in the cost. Others might think they can get by with just a Facebook page or Google My Business Profile. And a few may even feel like a website is not relevant for their business if they do not sell anything online.

But a website can benefit nearly any small business. Even if you do not sell products or services online, it can help to direct people to your location, get your business in front of more potential customers through search and provide some credibility for your brand.

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Statistics show that cybersecurity is a legitimate threat to small businesses, but small businesses don't always act on that knowledge. According to the 2018 Small Business Cybersecurity Report, 47% of small businesses experienced an attack in the past 12 months. Cybersecurity is a serious concern, yet the report shows only 52% of businesses have a cybersecurity strategy.

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Online security was a big topic in the past week.

Of course, news broke mid-week about the big Capital One data breach. And we talked about how you can deal with that as a small business owner and entrepreneur. There’s a good chance your data was compromised in the attack in some way so be sure to do a little digging to find out how you should respond but not overreact.

And that brings us to another bit of news we learned this week, and that’s how small business owners feel about their own cyber security.

In the 2019 SMB Cyberthreat Study from Keeper Security, we learned that nearly 2/3 of small business owners do not feel threatened by a cyber attack. However, that same survey found that 2/3 of small business owners have been victims of a cyber attack in some way.

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If you run a small business, security is probably near the top of your priority list—and if it’s not, it should be. Businesses are the most common targets for cyberattacks, and the consequences of having data stolen can be huge ever since the passage, implementation, and consequences of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in Europe.

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While cyberattacks facing large corporations and government entities may dominate headlines, small businesses are victim to the majority of cybersecurity breaches. In fact, nearly half of small businesses in the United States suffered a cyberattack in 2017, according to a recent study.

Cybersecurity attacks are constantly evolving to accommodate the latest technologies. Small businesses contend with several existing and emerging internet-related threats, including malware, ransomware, phishing and botnet infections.

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The research shows that the majority of small businesses believe their revenue growth underperforms their peers. Specifically, 60% of respondents ranked their revenue growth below the 50th percentile of similarly sized companies. Yet, when comparing their actual cash flow and revenue data with the analysis drawn from the Kabbage Small Business Revenue Index, the information indicates that the vast majority of respondents have healthy revenue performance. The question is, why are these business owners feeling pessimistic about their company's performance, and how is it impacting their decision making?

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For small business owners, tidying up your digital space means conducting a virtual sweep of your website and organizations security practices. I recommend that small business owners use the following cybersecurity spring cleaning checklist to ensure they don't miss any important items.

Spring Clean Your Website
The first step of cybersecurity spring cleaning is to deep clean your business website. By clearing out what you do not need, you can improve the overall health of your site.

Start with decluttering plugins and software. You should only keep the ones you're using and delete the rest to reduce your sites cybersecurity risk.

After you remove any plugins and software you are not using, make sure the ones you keep are updated. In addition, continue to proactively monitor your plugins and software on a regular basis and check for security updates.

It's also the perfect time to take a closer look at the data you're gathering from customers. Ask yourself if you are collecting information that truly benefits your business, such as information that drives value for marketing, sales, and services. If the type of information you collect has changed over time, delete any data and applications you're no longer using such as analytics code, remarketing snippets, affiliate tracking, and CRM tracking.

Social distancing amid COVID-19 has forced millions of businesses to set up remote workstations that rely solely on Web applications and services (SaaS) to conduct business operations.  According to a new survey by the Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI), the virtual workplace has increased cybersecurity concerns for small business owners, as most of them have not implemented remote working policies to address cybersecurity threats.

The survey, which included 412 small business owners, revealed that while most small business owners are concerned about cyberattacks, many  lack the resources to invest in necessary security measures – and  half of them are worried that remote work will lead to more cyberattacks. It revealed that only 40% of small businesses have implemented a cybersecurity policy. Around 40% of businesses stated that economic uncertainty prevents them from making security investments. While 46% have offered training to help their employees stay secure while working remotely.

Nearly 51% of business owners surveyed said they provided employees with technologies to improve cybersecurity for remote work. And 55% of them said they believe federal and state governments should provide funding for cybersecurity products and services.

In the current environment, cybersecurity is essential for businesses of all sizes. Many small or medium-sized businesses find themselves without adequate cybersecurity, either as a result of believing that they don’t need it or simply overlooking it among the many demands that come with running a business.

1. Use protection against ransomware
2. Invest in employee security training
3. Adopt multifactor authentication
4. Use a Security Information and Event Management system
5. Implement effective systems for protecting and monitoring data
6. Have a plan for mobile device security

How people usually do elevator pitches
Among those who put thought into their elevator pitches, there tends to be two basic formulas:

Formula A: Introduce oneself and the name of the company, then describe the product or service in the context of the customer or industry’s pain point. Then, at the end, make the ask.

Formula B: Identify the pain point before introducing oneself and the name of the company. Then describe the product or service, followed by the ask.

While I am adamant that the only hard and fast rule of communication is that there are no hard and fast rules, I favor Formula B. People are most likely to embrace a solution when it is provided within the context of a problem they care about solving. By starting with a pain point, the entrepreneur is speaking to what an uninformed audience cares about right away thus making sure that the first thing their audience hears has intrinsic value to them. This helps the audience become immediately invested in solving the problem, which helps the entrepreneur to build some momentum.

Remote work was already on the rise before Covid-19 forced many employees to transition to working from home. Today, as many organizations continue to operate remotely due to the pandemic, how can business leaders address the array of security challenges their companies face?

Network security should be top of mind for businesses of all sizes across a variety of industries. While the list of companies experiencing major security breaches in recent years includes some well-known enterprises, addressing security threats is an especially hefty challenge for small businesses—particularly if those businesses lack the resources to implement strong controls and educate staff.

I mentioned that making Good Omens two is half of what I've been working on, and will be working on for next eighteen months, and I said I'd tell you soon enough what the other secret project I've been working on is.

It's this.

And I cannot tell you how happy I am to be making it, and making it in the way that we're making it.

Anansi Boys started in about 1996. I was working on the original Neverwhere TV series for Lenny Henry's film company, Crucial Films.

I loved a lot of what we were doing in Neverwhere. 25 years ago, it felt like we were doing something ahead of its time. 

Lenny and I went for a walk. Lenny grumbled about horror films. “You'll never get people who look like me starring in horror films,” he said. “We're the hero's friend who dies third.”

And I thought and blinked. He was right. “I'll write you a horror movie you could star in,” I told him.

I plotted one. I tried writing the first half-dozen pages of the movie, but it didn't seem to be right as a movie. And I was beginning to suspect that the story I was imagining, about two brothers whose father had been a God, wasn't really horror, either.

I borrowed Mr Nancy from the story I had not yet told and I put him, or a version of him, into AMERICAN GODS. 

In 2002 I was having lunch with my editor, and I told her the story of Anansi Boys, and said it was probably a novella. She waved her fork at me. “That is a novel,” she said, very certain. I was impressed enough with her certainty that I wrote the novel.

The creation and publishing of the novel is documented here on this very blog. Here's a useful bit, explaining its relationship to American Gods, and also explaining what Anansi Boys is:

https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2005/05/anansi-boys-question-of-day.asp

(For those of you who don't want to click, I talked about describing it thus:

My new novel is a scary, funny sort of story, which isn't exactly a thriller, and isn't really horror, and doesn't quite qualify as a ghost story (although it has at least one ghost in it), or a romantic comedy (although there are several romances in there, and it's certainly a comedy, except for the scary bits). If you have to classify it, it's probably a magical-horror-thriller-ghost-romantic-comedy-family-epic, although that leaves out the detective bits and much of the food. 

Which, oddly enough, is still a pretty good description.)

The book came out and was my first New York Times Number One Bestseller. 

https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2005/09/theres-first-time-for-everything.html 

(This is the Ukranian cover.)

A top Hollywood director wanted to buy the rights to Anansi Boys, but when he told me that he planned to make all the characters white, I declined to sell it. It was going to be done properly or not at all.

And then, about ten years ago, two things happened at the same time. Hilary Bevan Jones, a producer who had made a short film I had directed (called Statuesque) mentioned she'd love to make Anansi Boys as a TV series, and a man named Richard Fee, who worked for a company called RED, spotted me eating noodles in a London noodle bar, waited outside so he didn't seem like a stalker, and told me how much he loved Anansi Boys and that he'd love to make it into television.

I loved the TV that RED had made, loved Hilary and her team at Endor, and, unable to decide between them, suggested that they might be willing to work together. They both thought this was a good idea. 

Work started. Somewhere around 2016 I agreed to work on it to help it get made, but we all knew that we would have to be patient as I was writing and making Good Omens. And when Good Omens was in post production we began to move forward.  Amazon had loved making Good Omens, and were blown away by the viewing figures and reaction to it, and wanted to make more things with me, so Endor and Red now had a place to make it for. We put together a fabulous team of writers -- Kara Smith and Racheal Ofori and Arvind Ethan David, not to mention Sir Lenny Henry, who came on board both as a writer and as an Executive Producer to make sure that the soul stayed in it. (I'm writing the first and the last episode). 

Douglas Mackinnon agreed to co-showrun it with me, because I knew I never wanted to be the sole showrunner of anything again and after the Good Omens experience I would trust Douglas with my life and (which actually may be more important) with my stories. We planned to shoot it all around the world...

Paul Frift had been the producer of Good Omens during the South African leg of the shoot, and was indomitable, so we were very happy when he agreed to come on board as our producer.

And then in 2020 Covid happened. The Prime Directive of making Big Budget International television suddenly became “Don't Travel and Especially Don't Travel All Around The World. We Mean It.”

Douglas came up with a Plan to bring Anansi Boys to the screen that was audacious, creative and brilliant. All we needed to make it work was the Biggest Studio in Europe and access to an awful lot of cutting edge technology. 

The biggest Studio in Europe happens to be in Leith, outside Edinburgh. 

Before Covid, the plan had been first to make Anansi Boys, then immediately to make Good Omens 2. (Good Omens 2 was going to be shot in Bathgate, outside Glasgow.) That was the plan we were working on through most of 2020. Then, in September 2020, Douglas and I got a call from Amazon. “We've got good news and complicated news for you,” they said. “The good news is we are greenlighting both Good Omens and Anansi Boys. The complicated news is... well, how do you feel about making them both at the same time?”

So...

Anansi Boys is coming.

Hang on. I want to do that again in a bigger font.

Anansi Boys is coming.

I'd loved the pilot episode of Star Trek Picard, and talked to Michael Chabon about the director, Hanelle M. Culpepper, and he gave her a rave recommendation as someone who could tell a story and stay in control of the technology. We reached out to her, sent her the scripts and the novel, and she loved the project. Hanelle is going to be our lead director, and will direct two episodes.

Hanelle, Sir Lenny Henry, Hilary Bevan Jones and Richard Fee are executive producers, as are Douglas and I.  Hanelle,  Jermain Julien and Azhur Saleem are our three directors.

We will start to announce the cast soon (it's thrilling).  (The crew are, to me, just as thrilling.)

(But I'll give you one clue: one of our cast members was on a public event with me at some point in the last five years. The first thing she said when we met backstage was that her favourite book was the audiobook of Anansi Boys, read by Lenny Henry. And when I told her that there was a part in the book I'd originally written with her in mind, she was overjoyed. So when it became a reality, she was the first person I asked, and the first to agree.)

(The Anansi Boys image above is by Michael Ralph, our amazing production designer.)

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 25, 2024 ) The global physical security market size is projected to grow from USD 110.2 billion in 2023 to USD 136.9 billion by 2028 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the forecast period. The growth in the use of IP-based cameras for video surveillance...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 26, 2024 ) The industrial cybersecurity market was USD 84.54 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach up to USD 135.11 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 9.8 %. Rising government and private investments to create safe and secure industrial environment, deployment of AI/Gen...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 28, 2024 ) The global IoT security market size is projected to grow from USD 24.2 billion in 2024 to USD 56.2 billion by 2029 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.4% during the forecast period. Organizations face significant financial losses and reputational damage...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 29, 2024 ) Global Synthetic Aggregates Market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.7% throughout the forecast period, reaching nearly US$ 56.19 Bn. by 2030 Synthetic Aggregates Market overview Synthetic aggregates, also referred to as artificial aggregates or lightweight...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 30, 2024 ) Integration of renewable energy sources requires modernizing the grid, including the use of reclosers and sectionalizers. Utilities are investing more in distribution automation to enhance reliability and efficiency by automating grid management. Increasing need...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 01, 2024 ) The global Digital Instrument Cluster market is witnessing rapid growth, fueled by increasing demand for advanced automotive displays and enhanced in-car experiences. Driven by advancements in digital interfaces, these clusters provide customizable, high-resolution...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 04, 2024 ) The Aluminum Flat Rolled Products Market is set for expansion as demand rises in automotive, construction, and packaging industries. Aluminum’s lightweight and corrosion-resistant properties make it ideal for use in energy-efficient vehicles and sustainable buildings....

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 05, 2024 ) The Exoskeleton Market is projected to grow rapidly, driven by applications in healthcare rehabilitation and industrial productivity. Exoskeletons enhance mobility for those with disabilities and improve worker efficiency and safety in industries such as manufacturing...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 06, 2024 ) The DDoS protection & mitigation security market is projected to grow from USD 5.17 billion in 2024 to USD 9.63 billion by 2029 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.2% during the forecast period. DDoS protection and mitigation security growth is driven...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 12, 2024 ) Outskirts Press—the fastest-growing, full-service self-publishing and book marketing company—is pleased to announce the release of Secret Deception: A Cade Garrett Mystery, the sequel to Promised Revenge, by Jerry Snodgrass. Cade Garrett, his wife, Sally,...

(EMAILWIRE.COM, November 13, 2024 ) The Security Service Edge Market is expected to reach USD 2.8 billion by 2028 from USD 0.8 billion in 2023, at a CAGR of 25.4 % during 2023–2028. The evolving cybersecurity landscape and the dynamic digital transformation of organizations are driving the adoption...

Le secteur chinois de la livraison express a enregistr� une expansion rapide en octobre, avec une acc�l�ration significative du taux de croissance des affaires, selon un indice de l'industrie publi� mercredi par le Bureau national des postes. ...

Joe Jones joins a network marketing company and says .
. .

"Wow this business looks great!

I can't believe how great this product is. I never knew
it existed until that day I luckily happened upon it
online, but ever sense that day I've been a different
person. The team I'm on is fantastic and I can't wait
to learn what they are going to teach me next.

This business is going to change my life and my sponsor
is teaching me things I never knew. I set a goal to
cover both my mortgage and car note with this business
and I gave my word not only to myself, but to my
sponsor as well, that it's happening and as far as I'm
concerned it's as good as done.

It's only a matter of time."

Bill Baxter joins the same network marketing company
and says . . .

"This Company looks pretty good, but the last time I
gave this a shot it didn't work. I'm only going to give
this go around two months and if I'm not making at
least $1000 a month I'm out of here. I think my sponsor
said something about a co-op. I'm gonna join and if
that doesn't grow my business then I'll know.

I think this stuff can work. I mean, I've seen it work
for so many other people, but they all get up on stage
and bring prospects to those business calls, I've done
that before and I'm not doing it again.

I've only got 4 hours to spare a week and if this
business doesn't grow with that sort of time you won't
see me around here in a month I can promise you that.
They say anyone can make it happen, yeah right . . ."

Six months later . . .

Joe is making double what he set out to as his goal and
Bill has moved on to three more network marketing
companies and hasn't made a dime yet.

I wonder why?

It's your belief system. It's a thermometer for you.
Where you set it is exactly where you go.

Where you go is exactly how people see you.

Believe big in you and bigger things than you thought
would happen will, but have little belief in yourself
and little to nothing happens.

It's your choice.

What do you believe about your business?

Are you going to make it happen or make sure it
doesn't? It all comes down to what you think.

And to be honest if you believe big you'll get there,
but you'll get there faster if you know a few secrets
to get you there faster.

Here is where you'll find them, the question is . . .
will you use them?



What if you could learn how to grow your network
marketing business the 2007 way, instead of having to
rely on what worked 30 years ago because your sponsor
doesn't know any better? Do you'd think you'd reach you
goals faster? Here's how to find out:

==> http://www.opportunity-waits.com

From the OK Historical Society. Shot in OKC in 1972, starring Robert Lansing ('Gary Seven'), Marj Dusay ('Brain and brain, what is brain' from 'Spock's Brain'), and Peter Hardt of Fantastic Theater. Now on the main page, and favorited on the TTM YouTube Channel.

On June 12, the towns of Hilongos, Isabel, and Merida in the Province of Leyte announced that their towns are already in a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC).

A total of 21 Local Government Units in Eastern Visayas have been declared with a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status, showcasing significant advancements in the region's anti-insurgency efforts.

Published at LXer: Arch Linux has announced a new partnership with Valve, the company behind the Steam gaming platform and Steam Deck. Read More......

Published at LXer: Security is an essential consideration when using computers and other technological devices. Linux admins and organizations must be informed about applicable legal measures...

Published at LXer: Arch Linux announces a collaboration with gaming giant Valve, focusing on developing a robust build service infrastructure and a secure signing enclave. Read More......

In a surprising turn of events, the Brazilian government has found a new ally in its fight against inflation and energy challenges: online casinos and crash games, like Aviator operators. By introducing additional taxes on these rapidly growing sectors, the government aims to channel the revenue into critical areas of the economy, including the burgeoning green energy sector. This strategy not only addresses economic stability but also aligns with Brazil's long-term commitment to sustainable development.

I am excited to announce easily my most sophisticated widget ever, Sundial. In the past I have sort of hacked my widgets together. This project was for work, so I was really thorough and did things according to the Apple guidelines (imagine that!). What is Sundial, you ask? Sundial makes it easy to track time on projects through Basecamp. Check it out!

Versie 1 van het insect hotel was een geslaagde decoratie. Het insecten hotelletje hangt al weer een paar jaar buiten, en zo af en toe zien we wel eens een insectje in de buurt rondhangen. Het nieuwe insect hotel is … Lees verder →