Small Business Labs

JULY 31, 2017

The well known New York Times columnist, best selling author and pundit Thomas Friedman wrote a very bullish article on gig work last week. Friedman points out that tour guiding will likely not solve the middle class jobs problem. Again from the article: "Is this the only answer for the American middle-class jobs challenge?

Travel 140

Travel Health 140

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

  But even more recently, Atelier switched to calling it the creator economy in their Harvard Business Review article The Creator Economy Needs a Middle Class. This article points out one of the issues facing the creator economy is while a few creators make lots of money, most make very little. 

Cubicle 195

Cubicle 2017 Social Media Facebook 195

Small Business Labs

MARCH 6, 2018

There have been a number of recent articles pointing out that despite having to compete with several giant beer companies, the craft brewing industry has dramatically expanded over the past decade.   That artisan businesses can be job creators is certainly true in the case of craft brewing.

2008 174

2008 Equipment Goals Skills 174

Small Business Labs

MAY 31, 2018

  He argues that despite relatively high incomes, growing numbers of Americans can't afford a middle class lifestyle. As the article chart below shows (click to enlarge), the 9.9% The article is not positive about this group (which the author says he's part of). The 2016 median for this group was $2.4

2016 145

2016 Expenses 2014 2017 145

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 27, 2018

  Skillshare is an online education platform with over 5 million users and over 20,000 classes taught by a network of 6,000 teachers across dozens of fields.  interesting conversation with Skillshare's CEO Matt Cooper on the Trending in Education podcast. 

Learning 100

Learning Skills Networking 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

.  This is one of many interesting stats about the growing number of rich Americans in the Baron's article Penta Millionaires: The New Rising Class.   As the article chart below shows, there are now a bit over 1 million U.S.   As the article chart below shows, there are now a bit over 1 million U.S.

2003 100

2003 2015 2010 AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 15, 2018

For example, we featured Baxter in our 2013 article The Rise of Robo Sapiens  because we were so impressed by the company. " According to the article, Rethink's robots simply didn't solve business problems as well as robots from competitors. .  " Expect to see more cobots in the future.

2013 119

2013 2017 Collaborate International 119

Small Business Labs

JUNE 6, 2017

These include relatively slow growth, stagnant wages, middle class job losses and declining job security. The excellent article chart below (click to enlarge) nicely summarizes this data. The article points the main culprit is shifting pay and variable work hours at a growing number of traditional jobs.

2017 164

2017 Purchasing AT&T 164

Small Business Labs

MARCH 18, 2019

They describe this as: " building a statistical view of your project based on a reference class of similar projects." These are some of our least read articles. But our favorite was what they call taking an "outside view" of a project or forecast. But we'll continue to write about biases. 

AT&T 146

AT&T Learning 146

Small Business Labs

JUNE 8, 2018

Our research shows a combination of wage stagnation, the hollowing out of middle class jobs and growing economic uncertainty are driving this trend. Like others ( see this article by Aspen Institute or this article by Samaschool ) we urge Congress to provide the BLS the funds to conduct regular and broader research on this topic.

2017 155

2017 UPS 155

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

." Key quote on earning Badges: Badges will be earned based on the same standards around the world – through world-class learning, fulfilling required experiences and making a contribution to the broader community, such as coaching colleagues, presenting to clients or publishing an article that educates others about the acquired skill.

Skills 150

Skills Learning 150

Small Business Labs

JUNE 1, 2015

   Their decoupling has led to growing income inequality, greater economic uncertainty and fewer Americans being part of the middle class.    The article is excellent and well worth reading, but the charts are even better.            

Interviewing 100

Interviewing Management 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 3, 2016

  Several recent articles and studies help explain this. The Atlantic's The Secret Shame of Middle-Class Americans  is written by one of the 47% percent of all Americans who couldn't come up with $400 to cover an emergency expense without borrowing or selling something.

AT&T 100

AT&T Expenses Stress UPS 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 23, 2015

My first thought was to write a long article listing the reasons. But I decided it would be easier to reference the articles already out there that present a balanced view of this decision.   But, of course, it's not. Fast Company Co. For many modern workers, the definition is somewhere in between.

Legal 100

Legal Filing Management 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 15, 2011

  I don't think Friedman covers new ground in the article.  " Key quote on what these productivity gains means for people: " to get into the middle class now, you have to study harder, work smarter and adapt quicker than ever before. ."   Amazingly, he does this in a page and half. 

Lifestyle 100

Lifestyle 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 25, 2016

These are: World-class business infrastructure: Small businesses have the ability to build upon technology infrastructure that was once the sole domain of large organizations, such as cloud computing, manufacturing and distribution.  Last week Intuit released the Slideshare presentation  The Future of Small Business.

2020 100

2020 Learning UPS 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 11, 2013

  But as the chart below from the New York Times article Comparing Jobs in Recessions and Recoveries shows, we're still not back to where we were, jobs wise, prior to recession. Over the last 4 years the U.S. economy has added about 7.6 million jobs.   The other issue the economy is facing is the type of jobs being created.

Restaurants 100

Restaurants 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 5, 2015

According to a Forbes article , equity crowdfunding was already set to surpass traditional VC funding in 2016 and the new rules will more or less guarantee this. By bringing in a new class of investors with Title III, we can expect further growth of the equity market as venture capital continues to move online.

2016 100

2016 Legal Filing Promotion 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 18, 2016

This, UBI supporters suggest, means a guaranteed income will become required for most people to achieve a middle class life. As the Wall Street Journal article Revival of Universal Basic Income Proposal Ignores Needs of Labor Force points out, giving all adult Americans $10,000 a year would cost about $2.4 The first is cost.

Budget 100

Budget Policies 100

Small Business Labs

APRIL 28, 2015

It seems like every day there is a new article slamming sharing economy platforms and marketplaces for their labor practices.   Key quote on this from the NPR article: When it comes to the future of the growing “sharing economy,” things are far from clear.   The term used to describe this 3rd class is dependent contractor.

Legal 100

Legal Health UPS 100

Small Business Labs

OCTOBER 15, 2013

It seems like every day a new article, forecast, book or opinion piece is released saying we're doomed because of automation. But saying they will will disrupt society in just 6 years is certainly unconventional.  And very unlikely to happen in such a short time frame. 

2020 100

2020 AT&T Learning 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 11, 2012

The article Write for BetaNews really caught my eye because it so matter of factly lays out the realities of the New Normal job market. BetaNews is looking to hire writers and they have 3 classes of jobs - traditional, freelance and unpaid. Key quote from the article: We're hiring and taking on new freelancers and other writers.

100

100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 8, 2013

  According to a Pando Daily article , Bookflip is: "part law office, part bookstore, part lounge, part classroom, part rec center, part ice rink and part tanning salon. " In addition to selling books and letting you meet with attorneys, Bookflip also sells tablets and smartphones and has classes on a wide range of topics. 

Legal 100

Legal Forms Learning 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 25, 2013

 We wrote a follow-up article on this topic in 2012 after we learned high end nannies in New York and London could make more than $200,000 per year in total compensation. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article : Demand for the well-staffed home is on the rise, according to agencies and house managers alike. .

2012 100

2012 Salary Agencies 2007 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

The NY Times article The Rise of Permanent Temp Economy provides an interesting look at the history of temporary work in America.  " The article goes on to argue that temporary jobs are bad jobs that don't provide adequate salaries or protection from abusive employers.   And I agree many temp jobs are bad. .

Temping 100

Temping Salary Agencies AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 19, 2013

 Key quote from a Tech Crunch article on the talk : The tools and platforms listed above have given way to a “personal revolution” that’s delivered unprecedented productivity and reach to small businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s tough if you’re poor, it’s tough if you’re middle class.

Google 100

Google Facebook AT&T Skills 100

Small Business Labs

SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

There's been a regular stream of articles about robots and automation taking jobs from humans of late.   This article focuses on growing income equality. This is similar finding to a study that we covered last year in our article The Polarization of Jobs. jobs will be automated over the next 20 years.

Yahoo 100

Yahoo 2013 2012 International 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Key quote: The tenure-track college professor with a stable salary, firmly grounded in the middle or upper-middle class, is becoming rare. Taking If this interests you, read the report or take a look at our last article on this topic. .  They make up roughly 50% of all university faculty members, up from just 20% in 1970.

Salary 100

Salary Confidence UPS 100

Small Business Labs

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

.  A non-profit with the mission of "a free world-class education for anyone anywhere," they've produced over 3400 short instructional videos anyone can access. They   According to a Forbes article on Khan : their videos have been viewed more than 200 million times.

Learning 100

Learning Training AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

MAY 9, 2012

And He Is Us" is a damning analysis of Venture Capital as an asset class and the Venture Capital industry in general.   For more details on the industries woes, see the report or this summary article in GigaOm.  Another interesting perspective is provided by this article on A list VC Fred Wilson. .

Expenses 100

Expenses Collaborate Finance 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 25, 2013

 Key quote from the article: "We think of ourselves as an 'adhocracy', the opposite of a bureaucratic structure,” said Mr. Cameron. "" The article also has a great quote from one of the founders on why they see this approach as being the best way to serve their market: There’s a trend towards project work.

Networking 100

Networking Agencies Collaborate Expenses 100

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

  Forbes article G oogle Cabs and Uber Bots Will Challenge Jobs Below the API basically states that all sharing economy jobs will eventually be bad. Critics say the sharing economy is creating a new class of serfs - poorly paid workers with few rights, benefits or legal protections.   So who's right?

Legal 100

Legal 2013 Interviewing AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

JUNE 27, 2012

He also closes his article by saying: Patterns like these suggest that we need to understand why fewer and fewer American entrepreneurs are starting businesses with employees. raises a number of interesting questions related to the fact that a growing share of U.S. small businesses don't have employees.

Elance 100

Elance 2007 AT&T 100

Small Business Labs

JULY 22, 2010

My wife told me about an article on Yahoo (Buzz I think) today or yesterday about the thousands of inventors out there that can't get funding. Posted by: Ron Stone | July 23, 2010 at 02:14 PM VC seems more sustainable compared to Hedge Funds though, a safer asset class? Short and sweet. Your comment has not yet been posted.

2010 100

2010 Retirement 2020 2005 100

Small Business Labs

AUGUST 1, 2017

The reason, according to the article, is that machines are much better and faster at processing information than humans. Some of our clients are world class leaders in the application and use of machine learning and AI. This is true, but doesn't have us worried about our jobs - at least not yet. We also use AI tools in our work.

AT&T 173

AT&T Training Learning Forms 173

Small Business Labs

JUNE 1, 2020

   Key quote from the article on the team: On post-production were the New York-based shops  Senior Post  and  Leroi.   But the show's success still illustrates how teams of distributed, independent workers and small firms can quickly form and produce world-class results.  

Social Media 155

Social Media Collaborate Forms Networking 155

Small Business Labs

JUNE 20, 2016

Key quote from the article: Known as Spring Place, the co-working/member’s club concept goes beyond just offering stylish work environs in an enviable zipcode. But they've recently announced they are adding coworking to their long list of activities.

Restaurants 113

Restaurants Environment 113