tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81355098929334245712024-02-08T06:43:30.011-08:00kurtlarvadisipusu Business Journallana osishvilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00330861900212823811noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135509892933424571.post-4578415653502066942018-01-11T11:36:00.002-08:002018-01-11T11:36:21.254-08:00Drobo 5N review<br /><br /><img height="225" src="http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7sVBVsfFi2vKQJat9hAZ4g-480-80.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />The market for high-performance storage devices is diverse and constantly growing. There are plenty of products that offer decent storage capabilities out there, but they often compromise on usability and are targeted at people with technology expertise.<br /><br />And when you find something that’s easy to use and has all the top features you require, it can prove costly. Drobo, a company well-known for its storage products and solutions, wants to change this with the <a href="http://drobo5n.com/drobo-5n/">Drobo 5N</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />It’s an affordable, easy-to-use network-based 64TB storage solution and is gunning for the average NAS drive. As well as being easy to get up and running, the device - which costs around £479 (around $600/AUS$800) - is flexible and expandable. And it aims to keep your data safe at the same time.<br />Design<br /><br />Storage units needn’t be bulky, as the Drobo 5N certainly proves. The device has been designed with portability and easy-of-use in mind. Weighing 3.9kg without the hard drives or power cables installed, you shouldn’t find it too heavy to transport. <br /><br />In terms of dimensions, it has a width of 5.9 inches, a height of 7.3 inches and a depth 10.3 inches. As a result, you’ll unlikely run into any problems when it comes to finding space for it. It’ll sit next to an ethernet supply or computer nicely, although you could easily tuck it away on a shelf should you feel it’s making your office look untidy.<br /><br />One of the best things about the 5N is that it’s expandable. There isn’t a long, complicated process when it comes to beefing up the storage, and you don’t have to dispose of RAID sets to cater for better drives. Instead, when the time is right, you can access the 5N’s contents to insert new disk drives or replace older ones. You don’t need any tools for this, which makes things even better. <br /><br />The 5N also sports a set of LED indicators, which are located on the front. When you’re running low on space, they flash and you can then make an action. Similarly, you’re notified if there’s a problem with one of the drives, letting you replace it straight away. Issues never go under the radar, and your new investment won’t end up getting damaged due to a faulty drive. lana osishvilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00330861900212823811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135509892933424571.post-73706707229492148872017-09-26T16:53:00.005-07:002017-09-26T16:53:41.029-07:00RAVPower 20100mAh External Battery Pack review: Charger sports a versatile set of ports <br /><br /><img height="267" src="https://images.techhive.com/images/article/2016/02/ravpower-100645339-large.jpg" width="400" /><br /><br />While the <b><a href="http://ravpowerfilehub.com/ravpower-external-battery/">RAVPOWER EXTERNAL BATTERY</a></b> has the same six-cell structure as the best in this class from Anker, it performs significantly worse. In testing, we found it delivered much less power to the MacBook overall, charging it only to about 90 percent before it was exhausted. Different cell suppliers and different circuitry designed to protect those cells certainly has an impact. The RAVPower also notably heated up during charging and recharging, despite its metal case, though not uncomfortably. (Testing of other RAVPower units at other sites showed a poor rated capacity to available power ratio for similarly high mAh models.)<br /><br />However, if you need speed and diversity of ports, and you have the right mobile equipment to go with it, you might prefer the RAVPower to the Anker model. It can be recharged through two ports (Micro-USB and USB-C), and the USB-C port can also charge other devices. And it has two Type-A ports with distinct characteristics.<br /><br />Unique among batteries tested, it can not only charge other devices using the increasingly common Quick Charge 2.0 standard (developed by Qualcomm), but also be recharged that way as well. Charging requires an appropriate mobile device, like a Moto X Pure Edition. Recharging the pack’s internal cells speedily relies on a separate USB charger with that technology; I purchased an Aukey 36W 2-port Quick Charge 2.0 adapter for about $23.<br /><br />Quick Charge pairs relatively high amperage with high voltage, and the 2.0 flavor can work as high as 60W. In my testing, the RavPower charged 12V at about 1.9A or about 23W, compared to about 15W maximum via the USB-C port. It took about five hours to charge it completely, matching the time that RAVPower says it should take. (The Anker unit took a couple hours longer, but tested with more available capacity.)lana osishvilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00330861900212823811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135509892933424571.post-44556631511553793502017-04-14T09:21:00.000-07:002017-04-14T09:21:19.584-07:008 Steps for Nurturing a Winning Business Idea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />About<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140915223641-170128193-what-are-the-real-small-business-survival-rates"> 50 percent of small businesses</a> fail -- that is, cease operations entirely -- within five years, according to the Small Business Association. What can you do to ensure that your company won’t be one of the ones that fails? The key lies in making sure you have a viable business idea that’s positioned well to help your company succeed.<br />Here are eight steps you’ll need to take to develop and nurture a winning business idea:<div>
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1. Start for the right reasons.</h2>
<br />It might sound strange, but there are actually plenty of bad reasons for wanting to start a business -- maybe you dislike responsibility, have problems with authority or just want an excuse to take naps in the middle of the day. But running a successful business takes hard work, determination and sticking out bad breaks, and you won’t be able to overcome these hurdles if you’re in it for the wrong reasons.<br /><br />If, on the other hand, you want to start a business because you have a true passion for what you do and you want to share a solution to your customers’ real needs, you’re much more likely to start out on the right path.<br /><br /><h2>
2. Brainstorm like crazy.</h2>
<br />The next step, once you’ve determined you have the right foundation, is to brainstorm like crazy. Take multiple 30-minute sessions to think about, and write down, every idea you have for a possible business. No holds barred -- nothing is too outlandish at this stage. What do you know? What do you enjoy? What have you done before? What have you always dreamed of doing?<br /><br />Once you’ve conducted your individual sessions, seek out people you know well and trust. Ask them what they see in you. What special talents have they noticed? Write it all down and keep an open mind.<br /><h2>
3. Pick one idea.</h2>
<br />This step may be the hardest part of this process, but you can make it easier by remembering that it’s not the only business idea you can pursue in your lifetime. This is simply the one you’re choosing right now. Weigh each of your options carefully according to what knowledge you have, where you have connections, where your passions are and where you see an opportunity.<br /><h2>
4. Test the market (then test it some more).</h2>
<br />It’s no secret that I’m a major proponent of testing. I<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/248554"> test everything</a>, and it’s changed my life. Many businesses skimp on market testing because they’re afraid it will be expensive and time-consuming (or worse, that it’ll reveal there’s actually no market for your idea). Let me tell you, though, there’s nothing more expensive or time-consuming than a failed business.<br /><br />There are plenty of different ways to test a market without spending a ton of money, but one of my favorites is to simply talk to real people who are in your target market to hear their actual needs in their own words. Roughly 20 percent of failed entrepreneurs attribute their failure to a lack of product-market fit. Don’t wind up becoming one of them!<br /><h2>
5. Make a plan.</h2>
<br />Once you have an idea you’re confident there’s a market for, it’s time to make a plan. Many businesses fail because they don’t take the time to make a plan and stick to it. And I’m not talking about a huge business plan document that’ll sit in a drawer and gather dust. I’m talking about a living, tactical document that sets a framework for the company, identifies growth benchmarks and defines your overall goals.<br /><br />As you make your plan, you may find yourself asking questions you hadn’t thought of before -- questions that potential investors will think of. By planning ahead, you won’t be caught off guard.<br /><br /><h2>
6. Secure funding or bootstrap.</h2>
<br />The<a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2014/09/25/why-start-ups-fail-cash-runs-out-and-raising-too-much-money.html"> number-two reason that startups fail</a> is that they run out of cash. If you aren’t able to fund the business on your own, it’s a good idea to try to secure the funding you need before launch. If you can’t secure funding from other business owners or investors, consider asking your friends or family for help. Alternatively, many founders choose to bootstrap their companies to keep operations under their control and maintain independence from investors’ profit motives.<br /><br />The route you end up taking for your startup is entirely up to you. <br /><h2>
7. Build a great team.</h2>
<br />As a founder, you should have significant knowledge of your market and the product or service you want to offer. However, you can’t do it all alone, and the team members you choose to bring on can make all the difference.<br /><br />When building your team, be sure to follow some key guidelines. Hire to supplement your deficiencies, not to copycat yourself or boost your ego. Evaluate your team regularly and<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245176"> know how each member</a> contributes to your success. Let anyone go who doesn’t move the needle for your business, even though firing team members is never fun.<br /><h2>
8. Don’t be afraid to try again.</h2>
<br />One of the things that statistics can’t capture is what happens after a business closes its doors. If you do end up shutting down, take the lessons you learned and don’t be afraid to try again.<br /><br />Being successful in business requires many things, from a viable idea to a team to support its execution. By putting these eight steps into practice, you’ll significantly increase your odds of finding a winning business idea that puts your business in the 50 percent of successful, growing companies.</div>
lana osishvilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00330861900212823811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135509892933424571.post-91226477299334922212017-04-04T09:17:00.000-07:002017-04-14T09:21:28.676-07:005 Strategies I Used to Start and Grow a Successful Business With Only $200<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I graduated from college in the worst year for finding a job in recent history: 2009. I had one interview after another, and the one offer I did receive kept getting delayed. I needed to find a job fast or move back home to California from D.C.<br />
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Having always been entrepreneurial, and with a passion for marketing, I decided to form a PR firm with only $200, and a whole lot of unknowns and risks. Six years later, <a href="http://www.cutlerpr.co/">Cutler PR</a> is a leading boutique tech PR firm based in New York that has serviced over 70 clients including major adtech, edtech, fintech and consumer tech companies.<br />
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Like many entrepreneurs, I was starting a business with little to no capital. While a generous line of credit, a handful of investors or an attractive inheritance can make starting a business easier, it’s possible to start a business with very little funding. But to do so, the sweat equity will be tremendous.<br />
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Don’t let a limited budget stand in the way of what could be a successful business and rewarding career. Here are five ways first-time entrepreneurs can bootstrap their way to startup success. It will be incredibly difficult, but it can be done.<br />
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1. Utilize a personal network.</h2>
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The most important step in turning an idea into an actual business is to build a customer or user base. For startup companies with no real footing within the industry, that can be particularly difficult. That being the case, entrepreneurs need to turn to their personal networks.<br />
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When I started my business, one of the first things I did was contact various people in my network to tell them about what I was doing to see if I could muster my first few clients. I landed three clients initially -- one was a company a relative worked for, another was a company I interned at in college and the third was a company a friend introduced me to.<br />
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Until we started getting search engine optimization and inbound leads, all of our clients came from word-of-mouth referrals, most of which stemmed from our original clients. Today, more than 40 of our clients can be traced back to our first half dozen clients.<br />
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Build a strong client or customer base in the beginning, and business will blossom from there.</div>
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2. Be scrappy.</h2>
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Running a startup requires entrepreneurs to be unbelievably scrappy. First-time business owners don’t always have the money or resources needed to perform certain tasks or hire consultants, freelancers or employees, which means they have to take matters into their own hands. Sometimes that means figuring things out on the fly or just winging it -- doing what they can with what they have.<br />
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My firm was so bootstrapped in the beginning that I didn’t even want to pay for accounting software -- something I lived to regret because my finances were nowhere near as organized as I would have liked them to be. My advice? New entrepreneurs should save where they can, but not be afraid to spend where they need to. <br />
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3. Seek advice. </h2>
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First-time entrepreneurs should aim to learn from the failures and successes of people who have done what they’re trying to do. Why try to reinvent the wheel? Seek advice from people who have been there, done that.<br />
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Articles and books, while helpful, can only tell a person so much about starting and running a business. Seek out entrepreneurs in similar sectors, speak to them and learn firsthand from their experiences.<br />
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I did this multiple times with owners of various PR firms. Find seasoned entrepreneurs who are willing to be open and honest about their experiences. Sometimes that can be tricky. The key to doing it is to approach them as an admirer who has something to learn -- not competition who wants something to take.<br />
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4. Differentiate the offering.</h2>
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Standing out in a sea of businesses boasting similar offerings can be difficult, which is why entrepreneurs need to strive to differentiate themselves and their products or services from the competition. How can entrepreneurs attract various shareholders to a business with no reputation or track record?<br />
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Craft a convincing pitch about what makes the business different from others within the same industry. Entrepreneurs should focus on the value their companies will bring and why consumers, potential clients and investors should take a chance on their businesses over others that may be more established. <br />
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5. Be creative (and competitive) with pricing.</h2>
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One tried-and-true way to differentiate a new business from similar businesses is with pricing. For new business owners who are still trying to establish themselves within the industry, offering performance or quality-based pricing can be a huge incentive for clients or customers.<br />
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I was able to sign on clients in the beginning who never would have signed because I was willing to be innovative with my pricing model and structure it based on performance. In other words, they had very little to lose if I didn’t deliver results. As Cutler PR has grown spectacularly before my eyes, I’ve kept the barebones philosophy from the first days -- that results, alongside awesome service, are what drive us.</div>
lana osishvilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00330861900212823811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135509892933424571.post-55023611882412575712017-03-31T09:12:00.000-07:002017-04-14T09:21:58.753-07:00The 5 Best Business Mantras From 'Mr. Wonderful'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We all know Mr. Wonderful. He’s the shrewd and sometimes insolent shark on ABC’s Shark Tank. Whether you love or hate him, there’s one thing we can agree on: he speaks the unfiltered truth. I recently met with Kevin O’Leary to talk about business, entrepreneurship and life. The best part of our meeting was that I left with five of the most memorable business mantras ever.<br />
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1. If it’s got rabies, kill it.</h2>
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O’Leary says that he can’t stand when his fellow sharks endorse terrible business ideas. He notes that the other sharks don’t want to hurt the feelings of a budding entrepreneur so they will send them off the show with a pat on the back and kind words about their business idea. This type of coddling, O’Leary says, is an absolute disservice to that entrepreneur. <br />
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Sure, the truth hurts sometimes, but O’Leary says he has no problem telling someone that their idea is bad and doomed to fail. He says that if an animal has rabies, you don’t send it off to get better, you kill it. He feels it’s his obligation to do that for contestants who come on the show with really awful business ideas.<br />
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2. Work for the white space.</h2>
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O’Leary keeps a crazy schedule. He gives all credit to his assistant, Nancy, for keeping his life on track. She color codes his calendar based on what type of appointment it is. He says that the goal of every entrepreneur should be to control the space on your calendar. <br />
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Some of the calendar should remain white each month, O’Leary insists. This is his time to do what he wants. He says that what every entrepreneur really wants is freedom, and so the goal should be to get to a point in business where you have plenty of white space on your calendar to do what you love.<br />
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3. Killing money is a crime.</h2>
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This is one of the reasons why O’Leary has no problem telling an entrepreneur when they have a lousy idea. He hates seeing good money being thrown out the window. That being said, as a shark he’s always looking for entrepreneurs who have solved a problem that nobody else has solved. <br />
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For example, O’Leary says that <a href="https://www.wickedgoodcupcakes.com/">Wicked Good Cupcakes</a> is one of the most successful businesses he has invested in on Shark Tank. Its cupcakes are sold in glass mason jars. Not only are they the best cupcakes you will ever eat, he says, they stay fresh in the jars and are easy to ship for gifts across the country.<br />
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4. I’m your best friend. I don’t care about your feelings. </h2>
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In seeking advice for any business, O’Leary says to find mentors, coaches and business advisors who don’t care about your feelings. This is the strength that O’Leary says he brings to the table on Shark Tank. He notes that it’s important to find people who will tell you real advice, based on the business idea at hand, not on the emotions of the entrepreneur.<br />
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5. If you want something done, hire a busy mom.</h2>
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At the start of 2015, O’Leary wrote off one-third of the 27 businesses he still held in his business portfolio from Shark Tank. He then analyzed the remaining businesses to see what they had in common so that he could make better investing decisions in the future. What was the one common thread that all of his high performing businesses had? They were all lead by women.<br />
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O’Leary says that he’s come to believe that if you want to find entrepreneurs who get things done, then find busy moms who are juggling a million things at once, because somehow they also manage to run and grow great businesses. <br />
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For example, Tracey Noonan and Dani Vilagie, the co-founders of Wicked Good Cupcakes. They are constantly traveling and doing media while also growing the business, improving processes, inventing new products and helping other family members who need them personally. O’Leary says he holds a deep admiration for working moms and when it comes to entrepreneurship, often sees their business ideas as a sound investment.</div>
lana osishvilihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00330861900212823811noreply@blogger.com0