You have a great idea for a business and the creativity and work ethic to get it off the ground. Things start out great and you ride the momentum for a while, fueling your hectic schedule with passion and excitement. Everything is going great until one day, you crash physically, emotionally, and mentally. What happened?

On August 9, 2009 the reality television show Shark Tank premiered on ABC. The premise of the show is fairly simple: entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to the “sharks” in hopes of securing an investment. Lori Greiner, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavek, Mark Cuban, Daymond John, and Barbara Corcoran serve as the primary sharks, with occasional guest investors sprinkled throughout.

“Effective philanthropy requires time and creativity – the same kind of focus and skills that building a business requires.” ~ Bill Gates

Philanthropy is defined, among other things, as “the desire to improve the welfare of others.” Seems like a simple concept, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, many businesses don’t participate in philanthropic endeavors. Not only does this not improve the community in which that business operates, it also helps the business itself.

The ability to connect with customers is one of the most important measures of a company’s success. Once you’ve established your company and developed your product, you need to reach out to the masses. Finding quantifiable ways to market your product is imperative if you want to become a formidable player in the industry. Knowing that goal and understanding how to achieve it, however, are often too very different things.

It is common in today’s market to see brands come and go. Often, a hot brand will explode onto the scene only to completely disappear from the industry in only a few years. So, how can a successful ride of over 160 years be explained? How did a clothing company established in the middle-1800s become a global icon? An analysis of Levi Strauss & Co. reveals the answers, all of which you can use to launch your own prosperous company.

The rise of technology has changed the customer service experience. In the next few years, it will continue to move away from human interaction towards an artificial exchange that is reliable, productive, and most importantly, fast. Whether you are a start-up or an established business, it is important to stay abreast of the changes in the customer service arena so you can understand the effect of both current and future trends.

The rise of technology has changed the customer service experience. In the next few years, it will continue to move away from human interaction towards an artificial exchange that is reliable, productive, and most importantly, fast. Whether you are a start-up or an established business, it is important to stay abreast of the changes in the customer service arena so you can understand the effect of both current and future trends.

If there is anything certain in the world of marketing and business, it is that nothing stays the same. The strategies that were effective in 2015 may not be so as the year comes to a close. Staying abreast of changing trends is imperative if one expects to reach the top of the industry and stay there.

If there is one thing that is a certainty in the world of marketing, it is that nothing stays the same. The consumer of yesterday is not the same as the consumer of tomorrow. As one generation ages and enters the realm of retirement, another sprouts up in its place. As a result, marketing and business executives must remain hyperaware of fluctuations in marketing trends and changing consumer needs.

Have you ever wondered just how much a name like McDonalds is worth? The answer lies in the companies brand equity. A company’s brand is one of its most valuable assets; and brand equity is a measure of that value. Brand equity directly corresponds to financial performance, something a company like McDonalds knows all too well.