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Zack Oates of Ovation on Building Business Connections through Digital Storytelling
Soliciting feedback from customers often seems like a daunting task. However, Zack Oates and his team at Ovation have cracked the code with a proven strategy that not only encourages guest feedback, but also establishes a personal connection for exceptional results.Zack Oates and the guest feedback platform Ovation have taken a radically different approach to hearing from customers, which stems…
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My Dad Won a Restaurant in a Poker Game — But It Was Losing Money. Now It’s a Historic Business.
My dad won a restaurant in a poker game. That was in 1971, the year I was born. I grew up in that restaurant, and now I own it.Our restaurant is called Mr. Henry's, and it's an institution in the heart of Washington, D.C. — just six blocks away from…
I Was Rejected on Shark Tank — Now I Run a $2.5 Million Business
Years ago, I walked onto the set of Shark Tank thinking I had it all figured out. I'd built an ecommerce brand and website from scratch, had revenue, traction and a mission. I left without a deal — and a bruised ego.But that moment ended up being one of the…
Pride in Every Frame — Using Authentic Storytelling to Drive Growth
I didn't fully realize I could embrace my identity as a gay man until I discovered the power of storytelling, the power of being real. The realization that people do business with people, not brands, changed everything for me. I spent years filming other people's stories, helping them show the…
Business Event of the Year: Robert Herjavec, Marcus Lemonis, Jon Taffer and More!
Are you ready to transform your business, supercharge your network, and learn directly from industry titans? This August 22-23, the Entrepreneur Level Up event is your ticket to success. Don't miss your chance to be in the room where deals are made, partnerships are forged, and entrepreneurial journeys are transformed.What…
Consumers Won’t Buy Green Products Unless Brands Do This One Thing
Sustainability was once the hottest word in business. As consumers demanded eco-consciousness, brands raced to prove their green credentials.Then everything went a little flat.The data shows it: In a September 2024 Deloitte global survey, 67% of consumers said they view climate change as an emergency — and about half (46%)…
Inside Giada De Laurentiis’s Deal With Amazon
Giada De Laurentiis didn't set out to become famous. She wasn't chasing TV deals or dreaming of launching a digital brand. When Food Network first asked her to submit an audition tape, she resisted."I just wanted a job so I didn't have to rely on my family," she tells Restaurant…
How Online Businesses Can Scale, Improve and Maximize Profitability — Even in a Volatile Economy
The entrepreneur's journey is rife with ups and downs and zigs and zags, regardless of whether you're just starting out or you've scaled your brand into an enterprise operation. Today's nerve-wracking rollercoaster business landscape is a case in point. With the dizzying pace of tariff changes from the current administration…
How My Old Job Secretly Prepared Me to Build a Thriving Business
I started my journalism career in 2004. Within months, it was clear: the industry was changing — fast. Newsroom layoffs, budget cuts, and staff downsizing became routine. Whispers of "impending cuts" turned into annual realities. Every year brought fewer resources, fewer colleagues, and more pressure to do more with less.Eventually,…
Your Competitors Are Winning with PR — You Just Don’t See It Yet
The pursuit of a return on investment drives nearly every strategic business decision. However, when it comes to PR campaigns, short-term ROI proves notoriously tricky to measure. This does not mean that PR's ROI is immeasurable, and it certainly does not mean PR is not worth the investment.Unlike advertising, PR…
5 Steps to Negotiate Confidently With Tough Clients
If you're a founder, freelancer or small business owner, chances are you've had at least one sales conversation go sideways — and maybe more than you'd like to admit. After presenting your offer enthusiastically, the client counters with a laundry list of demands, challenges your pricing or continues to push…
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Creative Ways Startups Can Earn Funding in Tough Economic Times
In a declining economy, startups face an uphill battle when it comes to securing funding.…
I Asked AI to Create a Plan for a Fake Company — The Results Blew Me Away, But Not in the Way You Might Think
With all of the recent news about artificial intelligence (AI), it got me thinking about…
Ideas To Transform You From Good To Better To Best
A while back, I took a couple of my grandchildren on a tour of the…
5 Crucial Challenges Startups Must Overcome
Startups face numerous challenges on their journey to success, and failing to overcome any one…