Business

Why so serious at work? Laughter can actually be beneficial for your workplace, according to a recent article from Fast Company.

The completion of a transaction, whether it’s simply selling merchandise or completing a contract, typically ends with a “thank you,” but that shouldn’t be the limit of your gratitude.

Everyone has that one person (okay, maybe more than one) who’s hard to shop for come the holidays. Fortunately, if that person on your list happens to be a coffee connoisseur, we’ve got you covered.

It’s the perfect time of year to evaluate your finances to see how you can improve in 2019. Tips we share with our customers include:

Emotional support animals can bring calm to people who need them – and legal confusion to employers.

A midday gym session can be the best way to boost your energy levels during the workday. But the thought of redoing your hair or taking that second shower can be daunting.

It started with passion. Then the idea. Now you even have the whole business plan with all the details addressed. What you likely do not have is the money. A business pitch competition could possibly be just the thing to get your startup truly started.

Up to 40 percent of food grown, processed and transported in the United States is never eaten, yet 1 in 8 Americans – or 40 million people – suffers food insecurity. The average four-person family wastes $1,500 a year on food.

Many business owners and marketers recognize the importance of social media but don’t realize that their social media practices might be affecting their website’s Google rankings. Here are a few quick tips to boost your SEO while continuing to grow your following:

Brand ambassador programs are catching on. However, rather than selecting a few influencers with high followings to promote their product or service, brands are taking another approach: building brand ambassador armies.

Hey, all you copywriters, there’s a new benchmark for speed – 20,000 lines a second.

Why do startups fail? We often get answers like “poor management” or “money ran out.” The real reason startups fail is founders build a product no one wants. Moreover, they find a solution to a problem no one has.

Email marketing, content marketing and social media are the best channels for digital lead generation, according to a recent study. While this isn’t surprising news, it is always interesting to see the latest data and research around digital lead nurturing and lead generation strategies.

“Always Welcome” is the story of a remarkable, larger-than-life Texan who worked hard to discover the secrets to success. In his new candid memoir, spanning 90 years of a life well lived, Welcome Wilson shares wisdom gained through good deals, hard times and happiness.

“Breaking The Glass Slipper” just might be the book that today’s Cinderellas want to add to their shelves. Every once in a while, a book comes out that is like a silent best friend, brimming with advice and guidance and helping one reassess the path they’re on, while simultaneously offering a pat on the back for making it this far.

Most of us spend lots of time with our co-workers. What could you do differently to be a better one? Sources from human resource blogs to Reader’s Digest offer tips on how to be a better co-worker.

Cyber security threats are out there every day for businesses, regardless of their size. That’s why business owners should lead by example and teach employees how to protect confidential information, like company finances.

Drone usage is flying ever higher in the U.S. The Federal Aviation Administration estimates that combined hobbyist and commercial drone sales will rise from 2.5 million drones sold in 2016 to 7 million in 2020, adding a projected 70,000 jobs and infusing billions of dollars into the economy.

Recently we shared a story about how virtual reality can help employees with nerve-wracking job interviews or a fear of public speaking. However, VR is taking on a role on the other side of the desk for employers.

Remember “The Jetsons” in the ’60s? Some of the show’s futuristic technology is already here, present in your neighborhood cafe. From table-mounted iPad ordering stations to hand-held payment programs and self-serve wine stations, today’s service includes almost as many technology devices as people.

Ideal circumstances for productivity don’t always present themselves while traveling. It’s all about finding your zone amidst chaos. Stay focused with a few tips:

Check out these TED Talks:

Are you tired of stocks, bonds and mutual funds? Incorporate alternative investments into your financial strategy. Alternative investments can increase returns and build a stronger retirement. They are not just limited to hedge funds but can include private investments such as equity, credit and real estate and also real assets such as commodities, precious metals, MLPs and REITs.

Project: Time Off discovered half of Americans don’t use their vacation time.

Have you recently received a lot of emails from companies notifying you of changes to their privacy policies? It’s because a European law — which includes the strictest data privacy rules ever written — the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect on May 25, 2018.

According to “The Mind of a Strategist,” effectively negotiating requires practice, not to be left dormant and tapped at will. At 4, my granddaughter Emily gets it.

Drybar Sugar Land in First Colony is officially open. The nationally-loved salon recently landed at First Colony Mall in Sugar Land, conveniently located next to a multitude of dining and shopping options including Sephora, Kendra Scott, Lululemon and Williams Sonoma.

My friend Ted became legend at Robinson-Humphrey for handing a young colleague a stack of financials and saying: “Here. You’re an analyst. Analyze.” The story was told in training classes for years.

The authoritative management style is fading. These days, many jobs involve knowledge work, where an employee’s main contribution is subject matter expertise. Consequently, a manager’s role is evolving into more of a “team leader” or “motivational coach.”

BBVA Compass is changing the landscape of personal loans with the introduction of its fully digital BBVA Compass Express Personal Loans. The new technology offers nearly instantaneous decisioning and potential same-day funding for BBVA customers and non-customers alike. This opportunity, which represents months of effort, underscores BBVA Compass’ drive toward digital transformation and achieving excellence in customer experience.