| December 18, 2012 |
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- Startup gives customers a forum for voicing complaints
Dave Carroll, who made a splash a few years ago after he put a video on YouTube complaining about a bad experience with United Airlines, has entered the world of entrepreneurship with Gripevine.com. The company, which has brought in $2 million in seed money, allows people to post complaints about companies and gives the businesses the opportunity to deal with the issue. The Wall Street Journal/Digits blog
(12/14)      
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- Want good ideas? Don't tell your workers they're dumb
It's never smart to tell your workers how stupid their ideas are, Joel Garfinkle writes. You often have to trawl through many bad ideas to find a good one, and being overly critical can lead employees to give up. "Strong negativity crushes future good ideas. It stops risk-taking and leaves you with too much of the burden to carry," Garfinkle warns. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership
(12/17)
- Startup helps its peers prove they're legit
CrowdCheck is a new company that's working to aid the crowdfunding process by helping to verify that businesses seeking funds are legitimate. "We go through a simple due diligence process that helps the company prove that they are who they say they are, that they're doing what they say they're doing and that they're using the investors' money in the way that they say they're using it," said Sara Hanks, one of CrowdCheck's founders. Entrepreneur online
(12/17)
- Business to take care of before you ring in 2013
As 2013 approaches, you can prepare by organizing your finances, shutting down any inactive businesses you might have and reaching out to your customers, writes Nellie Akalp, CEO of CorpNet.com. "The end of the year is an ideal time to show your customers how much you appreciate their business, as well as find new ways you can serve them even better next year," Akalp writes. Mashable
(12/17)
- 4 holiday survival tips for introverts
Holiday parties can be good networking opportunities, but they can also be hard for introverts to handle. If you're introverted, it's a good idea to think of some questions you can ask other people and to and show up to your next party on time. "There are only a few people that get to events exactly on time and it will be a much more introvert-friendly experience," said Devora Zack, author of "Networking for People Who Hate Networking." Inc. online (free registration)/Start It Up blog
(12/17)
- How to become a better listener
Really listening to what other people say is a vital element of the communications process, Zoe B writes. You can become a better communicator by making eye contact, paraphrasing what other people tell you and refraining from interrupting, she writes. Lifehack.org
(12/17)
- What defines highly innovative businesses?
There are many things that come together to create a culture of innovation, but strategic vision is arguably the most important, Jeffrey Baumgartner writes. Companies such as Apple and Google thrive because they have a strategic direction to guide their creative work to clear ends, Baumgartner explains. "If a business does not have definable, unique strategy, it will not be innovative," he writes. InnovationManagement.se (Sweden)
(12/18)
- IT mistakes that can cripple a biotech startup
Some biotechnology startups fail to make an adequate investment into their IT infrastructure, Steven Vigeant writes. "Running expensive scientific equipment on cheap infrastructure is a waste of resources and can cost you more in the long run." It's also important for biotechnology companies to understand the potential security risks that can come from using cloud technology, he notes. B2C Marketing Insider
(12/13)
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Best of 2012: 18 SmartBrief interviews with industry thought leaders
SmartBrief's SmartBlogs network interviewed 18 industry thought leaders this month. Find out what these leaders are projecting for their industries in 2013, and see what other free SmartBrief newsletters you may be missing out on. Learn more.
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