Infinity Freedom

Infinity Freedom "Committed to create your bright future" Having great company culture is no longer just an option. Today’s workers consider it as much as they consider salary and benefits. In fact, fantastic company culture is almost expected along with other traditional benefits. While the culture that works for one company might not work for another, you can learn a lot from companies who are doing it right, and get started on company culture hacks of your own. 1. Zappos Zappos has become almost as well known for its culture as it is for the shoes that it sells online. What does that culture look like? It starts with a cultural fit interview, which carries half the weight of whether the candidate is hired. New employees are offered $2,000 to quit after the first week of training if they decide the job isn’t for them. Ten core values are instilled in every team member. Employee raises come from workers who pass skills tests and exhibit increased capability, not ...

Infinity Freedom "Committed to create your bright future" A homogeneous company can never be a true meritocracy. I’m fortunate enough to say that my career has been very global. My pursuits have taken me from Switzerland to Singapore and everywhere in between. Constantly working in a global context, it was important from quite early on to learn to work with the more challenging elements of different cultures, while at the same time identifying their best factors and making them my own. Through time spent observing culture in businesses across the world, I’ve come to learn that workplace cultures that emphasize collaboration, sharing and innovation are far more likely to succeed. However, cultures that permit judging a person by anything other than their abilities and merits can stymy growth or even bring down a company. These lessons yielded big dividends when I expanded my business, Yerra Solutions, into the United States and specifically the greater New York Cit...

Infinity Freedom "Committed to create your bright future" In the absence of rules, people make up their own. Develop an ethical list of rules to ensure success. The idea that successful businesses need successful teams behind them is nothing new. Entrepreneurs know that to get to the top, they need to have good people with them. Business is not a solo sport. But what makes a great team? Culture, personalities and traits are all important, but if you’re looking for a championship-level team, then you need to create a system that holds people accountable for their actions and for each other. It’s the same truth in sports. Sure, you’ll have your star players, but even they can’t succeed unless everyone is on board, playing by the same game plan, motivating one another, referencing the same code of ethics. Even some of the most famous quotes from the late and great Vince Lombardi are about teamwork. A list of said rules is what I call the "Code of Honor." ...

Inifnity Freedom "Committed to create your bright future" When most platforms wouldn't even allow this company to advertise on their sites, the founder had to get creative. This is an episode of our podcast Problem Solvers. Each week, an entrepreneur reveals how they overcame an unexpected problem in their business -- and were happier and more successful as a result. The show is hosted by Entrepreneur’s editor in chief, Jason Feifer. Listen below, or subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you want to learn how to succeed without traditional advertising, ask someone in the "adult" industry. Why? Because most advertising channels --including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and more -- are closed to them. That's what Polly Rodriguez learned when she founded Unbound, a company that makes and sells adult products. Most platforms won't take her money, so she had to get creative...and build her own community. ...

Infinity Freedom "Committed to create your bright future" I have the tremendous honor of teaching marketing classes at New York University. Through the course of five years, my curriculum has changed from modeling my business books, fully integrated marketing to the differences between products and brands.  So what is the difference between a product and a brand? When the school asked me to tackle that subject, I had to think twice about it. But then it became rather clear to me.  It’s been a fascinating exploration because on the surface it probably seems like there is no difference between a product and a brand. But when you dig a little deeper, there actually is a big difference -- a huge one. So I thought it would be fun, in my next series here at Entrepreneur.com, to take the content from my NYU class and dissect it across a series of topics. I’m going to take you on a journey, so to speak, in a class-by-class, column-by-column look at what separates a produ...

From Wi-Fi to domestic travel, there are some things we can’t even think about living without. However, what if you had to choose between Netflix or Spotify? Turns out, most people would give up Spotify.   How This Private Aviation Startup Found Its Niche in the Luxury Market A recent survey of more than 1,000 people asked what luxuries people could and couldn’t live without. Unsurprisingly, the first thing people were quick to give up was nice towels. However, when it came to travel, food delivery, Netflix, coffee and more, decisions became more difficult.  Overall and without much surprise, people categorized Wi-Fi and their smartphone as the top two “have to have” items. Coming in close behind were pets, a dryer and a nice mattress, which also ranked in the “have to have” category.When it comes to health and wellness, people also prioritized eating out and buying lunch over going to the gym. Between coffee or alcohol, a majority chose coffee. Related: Why T...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” At one point or another, your company will need to craft product listings, and they need to be as persuasive as possible. At one point or another, your company will need to craft product listings -- whether it’s for a menu, merchandise items or services. Since these product descriptions will be featured on your website, your app, Yelp, Google and/or Facebook, they should be as persuasive as possible. You might be wondering, what’s so complicated about product listings. You simply write a product description that describes your product, right? Wrong. It’s actually a lot harder, because product descriptions need to sell your products. While it’s often considered the last resort for conversions, if properly written, the product description can be a powerful persuasion tool for boosting sales. Does your product copy entice readers to click “add to cart”? 1. Focus on your ideal customer Don’t try to please everyone w...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Conducting performance evaluations can cause a lot of issues in the employer-employee relationship. Evaluations can also be perceived as an unproductive exercise, wasting the time of everyone. A recent report from TINYpulse -- which focuses on employee-management issues -- found that 31 percent of the 100 managers surveyed listed “too time-consuming” as the top reason why they didn't like performance reviews. Some 26 percent of the 100 employees surveyed shared that sentiment. Additionally, bias was a concern: 17 percent of managers and 10 percent of employees surveyed said managers may be biased. So, what can organizations do to improve employee performance and ensure that they aren’t wasting time? Last year, the consulting firm Accenture outright eliminated annual performance reviews. CEO Pierre Nanterme called the process too costly and said it does not contribute to the goal of improving performance. Other l...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Your employees are tired. They look down and overworked. They've even started operating on their own and have lost focus on the company mission. But you are so close to reaching your next goal. You just need motivation, and you need it fast. At the same time, you know that a few words and a slight shift in your employees' mindset could make all the difference. So, a solution: Find a good quote. Send the right quote at the right time, and it must might turn your staff’s day around completely. Here are 17 quotes you can use to motivate your team, and maybe even yourself, when you need unity fast. 1. “Individual commitment to a group effort: That is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” -- Vince Lombardi Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi knew the importance of teamwork. He recognized that the success of a team is dependent on every team member working toward a com...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Too often, managers become paternalistic toward employees, falling into the wrongheaded belief that they know what's best for them. Managers often make tough decisions that affect the careers of their direct reports. It just goes with the territory. Some of those choices involve confidential, financial and legal considerations that just can’t be shared with an employee. But all too often, with the best of intentions, we default to our assumptions of “what’s best” instead of consulting with the individual in question. It’s scary how often this happens and how many of us are guilty without realizing it. Case in point: You assume that because a woman has expressed a desire to lead her current department one day, she may not be open to a transfer to a different team. In fact, she might not be, but if she’s earned your consideration, hasn’t she earned the right to weigh in on her own career? What about the ace salesp...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Valued employees are valuable employees. Show your people some love, and they'll respond with loyalty and higher productivity. When it comes to retaining your best employees, more money isn't always the answer. No one objects to a large bonus or an extra week of paid time off, but sometimes employees just want to feel appreciated. Managers who fail to recognize the efforts of their employees not only create tension in their relationships, but also lower the productivity of their teams. According to a Westminster College poll on employee motivation, 69 percent of people surveyed would work harder if they believed their leaders appreciated their work. If employees don't feel appreciated, they don't work as hard -- and why should they? From their perspective, no one notices if they beat the average. Their only motivation to do well is to keep their jobs. Appreciated workers are motivated workers. By...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Focus on your mid-level employees to help them grow with your company. In today's tight labor market, it's important companies not only invest in training new hires and management to retain key players, but those in-between, the mid-level employees. They're your succession plan. They need management. Just like any group in your company, they need training and development, and this group is especially important because they are the producers of the organization and the talent pipeline of potential company leaders. I started in an entry-level role at LaSalle Network 19 years ago, and as I grew up in the organization I didn't know what I wanted, but I had a manager who did. My manager paid attention to me, sat down with me and painted that bigger picture to help me understand what I could become within the company. Typically once people reach a certain level and tenure, they stay. They've overcom...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Employees aren't just the skills you hired them for. They are people with all the baggage that entails. Do you have an employee -- or multiple employees -- struggling with output and productivity? Or perhaps you have a recent hire who hasn't been living up to expectations, and neither one of you knows what to do. These cases are extremely frustrating: People who appeared capable of producing high-quality output for your team aren't living up to your expectations. You're stressed, and your employees are stressed. Despite the challenge of the situation at hand, not all hope is lost. We all get in a funk from time to time, and it often takes someone else to help us pull ourselves out. You can also do that for your employees -- it will make them more valuable to your company, strengthen your relationship with them and enhance their job satisfaction. Here's what it takes to lift a struggling employee ...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” Few people enjoy confrontation, and nobody likes the few who do, but it's your job to speak up for the good of the company. I have worked with leaders, managers and supervisors across the country. One of most common liabilities they share is an inability to hold their direct reports accountable. Shockingly, in my career, I have worked for several managers who never held me accountable. Ever. Bill Owens, attorney, author and former governor of Colorado, once said “True leadership lies in guiding others to success. In ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well.” Why don’t leaders hold others accountable? In the programs I teach, managers and supervisors say: “I don’t want the conflict.” “I want them to like me.” “They will do a good job if I hired the right person.” “I don’t know how" If you are in a leadership role, the work needs to get do...

Infinity Freedom “Committed to create your bright future” As the U.S. cultural landscape continues to evolve, smart business owners need to learn how to address a changing marketplace. The following excerpt is from Glenn Llopis’s book The Innovation Mentality. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble Recognizing the distinction between your different target audiences and what makes them special is what you need to understand to connect with them or any “cultural shift” population. Does your organization know how to answer these four fundamental questions about your employees and customers, which directly connect to the six characteristics of the innovation mentality? How does cultural upbringing (i.e., heritage) shape their mindset? What strengths and capabilities fuel their desires? What are their ultimate goals and ambitions (i.e., what matters most to them)? How do their core values and beliefs (i.e., what they stand for) affect their lifestyle choices? Today’...